OREANDA-NEWS. In mid-November 2013, Transaero Airlines launched flights within the Flight of Hope project, the unique charity project for the Russian aviation industry. Passengers travelling onboard the special Flight of Hope aircraft have the opportunity to make donations that go towards lending a helping hand to children suffering from life-threatening diseases. Transaero operates a Boeing 747-400 jet in a special livery on these flights. The fuselage of the aircraft is adorned with colorful palm-prints of Russian celebrities supporting the project: prominent Russian writers, artists, actors, sportsmen, businessmen and others left their palm-prints symbolizing helping hands to those who need them.

In the period from November to December 2013 the aircraft operated on the routes to the USA, Mexico, Thailand and the Republic of Maldives. Flights of Hope passengers took active part in the project by making donations.

Transaero Airlines also organizes a unique charity draw on each Flight of Hope where a passenger seat number on that flight is chosen: the airline then donates the full amount paid for the ticket on that seat towards the children's treatment.

During the first period of the project's implementation the overall charitable donations amounted to 720,000 rubles. The money raised provided Life Line Fund, Transaero's partner in this project, with the opportunity to finance treatment for three children suffering from serious heart diseases. Alina Biktimirova successfully underwent surgery, and Saina Krivoshapova and Kirill Kozyrev are being prepared for their life-saving surgeries.

Transaero Airlines plans to extend the number of Flight of Hope routes in 2014.