MONTREAL — Air Transat has partnered with 4Ukraine.ca to help bring displaced Ukrainians to Canada.

Air Transat will be providing available seats to Ukrainian nationals on their flights operated from Paris and London mainly to Montréal or Toronto. 4Ukraine.ca will be  covering taxes and airport charges. In addition to operating a donation-based airfare program, 4Ukraine.ca  includes a rigorous vetting process, host family background checks, and job prospecting for Ukrainians  relocating to Canada.

“We are thrilled to work with Air Transat on this initiative,” said 4Ukraine.ca co-founder and director, Anna Chif. “This partnership means the world to Ukrainians wanting to come to Canada. Air Transat’s offer,  combined with our rigorous process and our private donations, provides a viable solution that ensures  Ukrainians coming to Canada are safe and prepared to live here. The arrangement will give us access to a  significant number of seats and allows us to exponentially increase the impact of our donations.”

Air Transat has already successfully helped several families fly to Canada. The company is eager to continue  supporting humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, said Transat’s President and CEO, Annick Guérard.

“It was important for us to support the relocation of Ukrainians with  an organization that facilitates every step of the relocation process, with a focus on ensuring the safety of this  vulnerable population that has already faced significant trauma,” said Guérard.

The partnership complements the fundraising campaign launched by Transat in March amongst its employees and customers to assist SOS Children’s Villages, a long-time charitable partner that has rapidly  scaled up its response in Ukraine to meet the critical needs of vulnerable children and families affected by the  conflict.

“By adding our partnership with 4Ukraine.ca to our support to SOS Children’s Villages, we are able  to lend help to Ukrainians internally displaced in Ukraine, as well as those who have fled the country and wish  to relocate to Canada,” said Guérard.

To date, 4Ukraine.ca has raised over $65,000 in donations and secured a partnership with FlightHub for  $100,000 worth of flights.

To support families and make this offer available to more qualifying Ukrainians, Canadians can donate directly on the 4Ukraine.ca website. Employers looking to hire Ukrainians and  individuals wishing to host Ukrainians can find information at 4Ukraine.ca.