United Cargo brings aid to Typhoon Sinlaku victims
When Typhoon Sinlaku hit the Northern Mariana Islands on April 14, 2026, the 48 hours that followed crippled the infrastructure in Tinian, Saipan, and Guam. Airports shut down as 43,000 people across Mariana Islands dealt with power outages, water damage and shortages, and widespread destruction of buildings and facilities. United Cargo immediately began arranging emergency transport and supplies together with its Community and Market Impact partners.
“We resumed our regular daily service to and between Guam and Saipan, as soon as conditions allowed, on April 20, 2026, and arranged additional flights on that day and April 22, to bring urgent relief supplies to everyone affected by what is the world’s strongest storm so far, this year,” Ben Scott, Cargo Sales Account Executive at United Airlines, explains. “Drinking water, generators, cleaning supplies and medical items are needed right now. We also carried hundreds of emergency responders to the impacted areas, and transported tourists out of the area. It will be a while before the islands are open for tourism, again. As the region’s leading carrier, United Airlines is doing everything it can to support the affected communities.”
United Cargo is in close collaboration with the many relief organizations currently providing emergency shelters, medical care and hot meals to the thousands of displaced islanders. Among the carrier’s key Community and Market Impact (CMI) partners are the American Red Cross, World Central Kitchen and Airlink. In addition, it has launched a Miles on a Mission campaign to ensure that the much-needed support and recovery continues.
“United Airlines has pledged to match all donations made from now until May 31, 2026, up to a value of $75,000, to help amplify the impact for our nonprofit partners working across Micronesia,” Ben Scott adds.
United Airlines was recently presented with the Silver Halo Award for Best Emergency/Disaster Response Initiative at the 2026 Halo Awards Gala in Palm Springs, California – one of the U.S.’ most respected honors in corporate social impact.
Speaking at the event, United Airlines’ Community and Market Impact Senior Manager, Pulin Thakkar said: “We continue to focus on being a leader in the disaster‑relief space – bringing together the strength of our nonprofit and corporate partners and, most importantly, the many employees who step up in moments that matter.” He praised partners such as Airlink with whom the airline has helped an estimated 23 million people worldwide, since the start of the partnership in 2010. In that time, almost 5,000 responders and more than 2.1 million pounds of aid, from medical supplies to food and water filters, have flown on United Airlines to crisis regions around the world.
“No single organization can respond to the immense needs of communities during or after a crisis or emergency alone: we need networks of committed partners across the private and public sectors. United recognizes that doing good is good for business and our work together around the world helps the communities they serve,” said Airlink President and CEO Paloma Adams-Allen.
