summary
- United Airlines hosted Fantasy Flights, which took children battling serious illnesses on an unforgettable journey to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus.
- The flight was fully decorated for Christmas and included a variety of activities and generous donations from volunteers and local organizations.
- Fantasy Flights is a philanthropic initiative by United Airlines, and the North Pole is a popular destination that provides a special experience for terminally ill children.
United Airlines, in partnership with Children’s Hospice International, hosted this year’s Fantasy Flight, where children battling serious illnesses took an unforgettable journey to the North Pole.
A United Airlines Boeing 777 widebody plane traveled from Dulles International Airport (IAD) to the North Pole carrying 100 children and their families for the chance to meet Santa Claus on December 2, 2023.
Fully decked out in Christmas decorations, the flight took approximately 40 minutes to land at Gate D29 of IAD Airport, where the entire atmosphere was completely transformed to embrace the spirit of the upcoming Christmas.
According to a report by fox 5, Dulles Fire Rescue personnel distributed toys, United volunteers provided an abundance of food, and Georgetown University students sang carols alongside costumed local high school students. Several different flights were made, and the airline operated many more throughout the United States and its territories.
Fantasy Flight Details
Fantasy Flights is a philanthropic initiative run by host airlines that gives children with serious illnesses the opportunity to go on special journeys to fictional destinations.
The destination chosen is often the North Pole, where Santa Claus is said to have his workshop. Employees and community members, including firefighters, police officers, and local church groups, generously donate their time and effort to decorate gate areas and designated terminal spaces.
Photo: United Airlines
Employees wear bright costumes such as magicians and Santa’s elves to please the children. The event includes themed gifts and take-home bags and is often sponsored by local businesses and charities. It’s worth noting that Fantasy Flight started at Dulles Airport and has since spread to more than a dozen of his airports across the United States.
We believe that this little fantasy journey was a welcome escape for the children, allowing them to temporarily distract their thoughts from the challenges they encounter in the real world.
A busy few weeks for United
With the Christmas festive season just weeks away, airlines are ramping up preparations for an expected surge in travel demand. As part of its strategic response, United Airlines announced that it has increased its capacity by adding 50 flights a day in November 2023. These flights cover domestic, transatlantic, transpacific, ocean, and Latin American destinations.
United Airlines launches additional winter service with 50 daily flights
United Airlines is offering passengers many new options this winter.
Additionally, this winter season, United Airlines has its largest international schedule in history, serving more than 110 international destinations. This is more than his 25% increase in schedule compared to the previous year and 94% expansion over the 2020 winter schedule.
What do you think about this journey? Let us know in the comments section below.
