Jetstar Asia Gives Back To Special Needs Community

It doesn’t take much for a low-cost carrier to hit the news; a canceled flight, lost bag, or high ancillary charges is usually enough for the media to jump all over it. So, it is nice to write something extremely positive about a low-cost carrier giving back to its local special needs community.

Last week Jetstar Asia announced it is partnering with Singapore company SATS Ltd to support individuals with special needs or intellectual difficulties, as it is also known. The pair will do that by collaborating with My Inspiring Journey Hub (MIJ), a not-for-profit organization that equips, empowers and inspires individuals with special needs.

My Inspiring Journey Hub

My Inspiring Journey Hub offers an academic curriculum and daily living skills for students aged two to thirty years with learning differences of six diagnoses – Autism, ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, Dyslexia, Down Syndrome and Global Developmental Delay. It is a one-stop center for matters relating to Special Needs, especially for the Malay-Muslim community and those of lower income, that aims to leave a lasting impact on individuals locally and overseas.

The Jetstar Asia – SATS partnership will run for six months and enable passengers on Jetstar Asia flights to buy special MIJ products, which have been designed, created and packed by individuals with special needs. They have graduated from MIJ’s Work Readiness Adult Programme (WRAP) and are currently working at Ashrafs Cafe, a social enterprise managed by MIJ Hub in Singapore.

Jetstar Asia CEO Barathan Pasupathi said the collaboration provided the airline’s customers with delicious treats and created a platform that showcased the vocational skills of the team of MIJ Hub graduates. Talking about Jetstar’s role in the Singapore scene, he added:

“At Jetstar Asia, we are committed to making a positive contribution to the communities we operate in, so as a Singapore airline, we’re so pleased to be working with our industry partner SATS and such a worthwhile local organisation.”

The Jetstar Group comprises Jetstar Airways, a subsidiary of Qantas Group, in Australia and New Zealand, Jetstar Asia in Singapore and Jetstar Japan in Japan. Current fleet data from ch-aviation.com shows that Jetstar Airways has 79 aircraft, Jetstar Asia has seven, and Jetstar Japan has 22.

Photo: Peterfz30 | Shutterstock

The group operates a narrowbody fleet of 97 Airbus A320 Family jets, including A320-200s, A321-200s and A321neos, including A321LRs in use by Jetstar Airways in Australia, which also operates 11 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners.

What’s on offer from MIJ Hub?

From August 1st to October 30th, a Peek-a-Box from MIJ will be available on Jetstar Asia flights for SG$10 ($7.50). It will contain the very popular Iced Gems snack, a fun-shaped crayon made by the graduates and a coloring sheet to keep the young ones amused during the flight.

Photo: Jetstar

From November 1st until January 31st, 2024, a My D-I-Y Cookie Jar will sell for SG$14 ($10.50). This includes Sea Salt Cookies and a set of stickers designed by the younger MIJ Hub students to decorate the jar. From every purchase of both products, SG$2 will be donated back to MIJ Hub to support and raise awareness of the vital work that MIJ does for Singapore’s Special Needs community.

MIJ Hub Founder Mdm Faraliza Zainal said the group was thrilled and grateful for the heart-warming collaboration with Jetstar Asia and SATS. She believes the collaboration has “crafted a journey of inclusivity and compassion that is making a positive impact on the lives the group touches. Our shared commitment has truly lifted our Special Needs community to new heights.”

Have you flown with Jetstar Asia recently? Let us know in the comments.

Source: ch-aviation.com