Newsroom | News | Welcome to Forest’way: T’way Air Fly together with Tree Planting and Community Engagement

Welcome to Forest’way: T’way Air Fly together with Tree Planting and Community Engagement

AFoCO-KHM
November 4, 2024
News

On October 20, 2024, T’way Air hosted a remarkable tree-planting event near Manas International Airport, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, marking the first step in a long-term environmental collaboration between T’way Air, the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO), and the Kyrgyzstan Forest Service. This initiative is part of T’way Air’s commitment to sustainability and fostering deeper connections between Korea and Kyrgyzstan.

The location of the tree planting, just adjacent to the airport, holds special significance as T’way Air launched its direct flight from Incheon to Bishkek last year. To celebrate this milestone and contribute to the local ecosystem, the airline and its partners initiated the creation of a forest named ‘Welcome to Forest’way’ on a 2-hectare site. This year, the team successfully planted 1,000 trees—including elm, juniper, and linden—covering one hectare. Plans are in place to expand the forest with an additional hectare of tree planting next year.

The event saw enthusiastic participation from nearly 20 T’way Air employees, including pilots, flight attendants, and engineers, along with representatives from the Kyrgyz government and international organizations. In total, around 50 people contributed to the greening efforts.

The tree-planting ceremony featured several distinguished speakers. Tagaev Murataly Abdykarovich, Director of the Kyrgyz Forest Service, Oleg Guchgeldyev, Representative of FAO in Kyrgyzstan, and expressed their gratitude for the support T’way Air and its partners have shown towards Kyrgyzstan’s environment and forestry. In their opening remarks, Sukwan Kim, Vice President of T’way Air, and Sunpil Jin, Vice Executive Director of AFoCO, highlighted the significance of tree planting in Kyrgyzstan, emphasizing the shared responsibility of nurturing our natural surroundings.

Adding further to the occasion, Kwangjae Kim, the Korean Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, delivered special remarks, celebrating the success of the event and noting the potential for further cooperation between Korea and Kyrgyzstan through initiatives like this one.

Day 2: Community Engagement with Local Schools
T’way Air’s commitment to giving back extended beyond the tree planting. On the second day, the airline’s staff visited local schools, where they generously donated sports equipment to students. They also took the opportunity to engage with the students, offering insights into careers in aviation, sharing their experiences as pilots, flight attendants, and engineers, and inspiring the next generation of Kyrgyz youth to pursue their dreams.

This two-day event not only strengthened environmental and community ties but also highlighted T’way Air’s dedication to making a positive impact both in the air and on the ground. Looking ahead, the airline plans to continue expanding the “Welcome to Forest’way” and deepen its partnerships with local communities and organizations in Kyrgyzstan.