THE LAN SERVICE ALLIANCE MEMBER AIRLINES PARTNERS WITH BREAK AWAY® TO SPONSOR ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK IN SOUTH AMERICA

04-26-2008

 

Leading South American airlines to send students from US colleges on yearly trips to region to contribute to overcome poverty in Latin America

 

 

Miami, Florida (April 25, 2008) –LAN Airlines, South America’s leading airline, and its related carriers are partnering with Break Away: The Alternative Break Connection, to transport students from the Miami area on humanitarian trips, called alternative spring breaks, to the region throughout the year. The first student group from Florida International University (FIU) left on April 23rd to Argentina, where they will assist the local chapter of Un Techo Para Mi País (A Roof for My Country), an organization that connects young people with communities in need through construction projects and social development programs that include education, training and community development throughout Latin America.

 

Break Away is a national organization that works with colleges and universities to implement alternative breaks, organizes trips during students school breaks that focus on direct service and are rooted in education about the issues and culture of the destinations where volunteers go.

 

On this occasion, LAN Argentina will provide air transportation for the students and Break Away and the selected chapter school will design an itinerary that maximizes the impact of the students’ visit on the host communities. Throughout the year, the LAN Service Alliance, including LAN Argentina, LAN Peru, and LAN Ecuador with the assistance of Break Away will bring students to Argentina, Peru, Chile and Ecuador. The students will be joined in each of these countries by local employees of the LAN Service Alliance member airlines and will support Un Techo Para Mi Pais volunteers on a host of efforts that include building homes and repairing schools and hospitals.

 

“We are delighted to be working with the LAN Service Alliance member airlines on this exciting program that will bring the talent and enthusiasm of Florida International University’s students to communities in need in South America,” said Jill Piacitelli, Executive Director, Break Away. “The thinking behind this partnership was to create a program that would have a lasting impact on the work of volunteer groups in the region and we are sure this will be achieved as more student groups head down to South America throughout the year.”

 

The partnership with Break Away is one of many initiatives that LAN is spearheading as part of its corporate social responsibility program. As the airline celebrates its 50^th Anniversary of flying between the US and South America, Corporate Social Responsibility projects will be at the forefront of the airline’s practices.

 

“We are always looking for ways to make meaningful, effective contributions to the regions we serve” said Pablo Yunis, Vice President North/Central America, LAN Airlines. “This new partnership with Break Away adds a new, refreshing dimension to this commitment.  We are firmly committed to the countries in which we operate and the goal of this partnership is to play a role in their economic and social development.”

 

About Break Away: The Alternative Break Connection

Break Away®: the Alternative Break Connection, Inc. is a national 501©(3) nonprofit organization that supports the development of quality alternative break programs by providing training and information primarily to colleges, universities, and nonprofit organizations interested in creating lifelong active citizens through these intensive service-learning programs.

 

About LAN

The LAN Service Alliance carriers, LAN Airlines, LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador and LAN Peru, offer flights from North America to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela from its US gateways in Miami, Los Angeles, and New York, and multiple other cities in the US through its oneworld partners. Passengers traveling with any of the LAN Service Alliance carriers may accumulate frequent flier kilometers/miles on LANPASS, American Airlines’ Aadvantage, or any other oneworld™ member frequent flyer programs.

 

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