In 2023, in Can Tho, Vietnam, local ECPs received hands-on training in sight-saving surgical skills on board the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, a fully accredited training hospital on a plane. The project helped strengthen local capacity to deliver quality eyecare and support more sustainable access to treatment in southern Vietnam.
NEW YORK—Orbis International, a global eyecare nonprofit, and AirAsia Group (formerly known as AirAsia X Berhad), a low-cost carrier with licenses to operate in five ASEAN countries, have announced a partnership in which AirAsia will provide $100,000 in air fare support annually over the next five years, helping Orbis teams work alongside local hospitals, ministries of health, training institutions and ECPs across the Asia-Pacific region. AirAsia will also support efforts to raise awareness of avoidable vision loss and the importance of investing in sustainable eye health systems, the announcement said.
Orbis said the partnership comes at a critical time for eye health across the Asia-Pacific region, where growing populations, rising rates of chronic disease, workforce shortages and unequal access to care are increasing the need for scalable, locally led solutions Orbis works throughout Asia and has long-term programs in many areas where AirAsia operates, including Bangladesh, China, India and Vietnam. For more than 40 years, Orbis has been a leader in aviation and innovation through the Flying Eye Hospital, a fully accredited ophthalmic teaching hospital aboard an aircraft, the nonprofit said.
The partnership with AirAsia will support Orbis’ long-term impact across its global eyecare initiatives, from the Flying Eye Hospital to Cybersight, its telemedicine and e-learning platform, as well as long-term country programs and collaborations with local partners. All of these efforts are focused on creating sustainable impact through innovation, technology, local workforce development and stronger health systems, the announcement said.
By combining AirAsia’s regional reach with Orbis’ long-term presence, digital platforms and locally led programs, the partnership will help bring eyecare closer to the people who need it while supporting sustainable progress across the Asia-Pacific region.
“We are grateful to AirAsia for joining Orbis in a strategic partnership focused on raising awareness about the importance of eye health and helping strengthen access to quality eyecare across the Asia-Pacific region,” said Kathleen Sherwin, president and CEO of Orbis International. “Together, we can help strengthen local capacity, connect eyecare teams with training and technology, and support sustainable systems that continue serving communities long after any single project ends. This is how we create lasting impact—through partnership, innovation, and a shared commitment to ensuring more people can access the care they need to see, learn, work and thrive.”
“At AirAsia, our purpose has always been about more than connecting destinations and we are incredibly proud to support Orbis in a meaningful way,” said Bo Lingam, Group CEO of AirAsia Group. “By combining the reach of our network with Orbis’s expertise, we can help bring life-changing eyecare, training and technology closer to the communities that need it most. We look forward to building a partnership that continues to strengthen the region we proudly call home.”
Orbis International added that as the need for quality eyecare continues to grow across the Asia-Pacific region, the organization is focused on meeting that challenge with solutions built to last. With AirAsia’s support, Orbis said it can help bring people, training and technology closer to the communities where they are needed most, opening new opportunities to strengthen care today while helping shape more resilient eye health systems for the future.
