From Runway Trees to Santa Surprises – A Look Back at the Aviation Industry’s Festive Celebrations
As we settle into 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how the aviation industry wrapped up 2024 with festive flair. Busy airlines and airports worldwide went above and beyond, pulling out all the stops to spread holiday magic. From Prague Airport’s dazzling runway Christmas tree to WestJet’s heartwarming “Christmas Miracle” campaign, these celebrations delivered unforgettable moments for travelers.
Cheerful Surprises and Double Rewards
WestJet celebrated its 12th year of spreading Christmas cheer with its “Christmas Miracle” campaign. This time, they revisited the “Real-Time Giving” concept with a unique twist.
Before boarding a flight from Toronto to Calgary, children were asked what they thought their parents wanted for Christmas. During the flight, WestJet employees raced across Calgary to purchase and wrap the requested gifts. Upon landing, passengers were surprised to find their loved ones’ holiday wishes fulfilled at the baggage carousel. Gifts ranged from simple items like avocados to more extravagant presents like flights to Italy, smartphones, and VIP experiences at sporting events.
Qantas continued the good cheer with its unveiling of a festive fleet for the holiday season. Two aircraft, a QantasLink Q400 and a Boeing 737, were decorated with special Christmas liveries. It was a joyous occasion for passengers flying on these aircraft in December as they will have received double frequent flyer points. Also introduced were seasonal menus for First Class and Business Class passengers on international flights, featuring holiday-inspired dishes made with Australian ingredients. They also expanded their inflight cocktail program, featuring new creations such as an exclusive Bloody Mary mix and a new signature cocktail.
Tasty Traditions Taking Flight
Another festive airline, British Airways (BA), celebrated Christmas with various holiday-spirited touches throughout December. On the ground, lounges at Heathrow and Gatwick offered winter picnic menus, pop-up stalls with British brands, and gift-wrapping stations. In the air, passengers enjoyed Christmas-themed menus on many flights, including a traditional turkey dinner. Passengers enjoyed their festive drinks, special amenity kits, and collectible baubles, which were offered in various cabins. Also, as part of BA’s charitable work, the airline also sponsored the Royal Albert Hall’s Christmas carol concerts and supported the Alzheimer’s Society. These efforts aimed to create a “truly British Original Christmas” for passengers traveling with British Airways.
Emirates spread holiday magic across the skies having unveiled a “sleigh-full of Christmas cheer”, with their new menus, drinks, and treats. Menus featured Christmas-inspired dishes like roasted turkey, lamb shank, and duck confit, alongside special desserts and drinks. Passengers in all cabins enjoyed hot chocolate with various toppings. These special offerings aimed to enhance the travel experience for Emirates passengers and deliver cheer.
Seasonal offerings included wines, chocolates, pastries, and classic Christmas dinners, along with new in-flight entertainment (IFE) options featuring holiday classics.
Bringing the Holiday Magic to the Terminal
In addition to the airlines, airports celebrated the season as well. Kansai Airports Group hosted a series of special Christmas events at its three airports: Kansai International Airport, Osaka International Airport, and Kobe Airport. From mid-December on, visitors enjoyed festive activities, including a stamp rally, a greeting wall, and Christmas card giveaways.
On Christmas Day, the official airport character, Sorayan, dressed as Santa Claus and made appearances at all three airports, distributing treats to all. Special performances by airline staff and local artists further enhanced the festive atmosphere. Such wonderfully orchestrated events showcased the charm of airports and spread the joy of travel with customers and local residents.
Prague Airport celebrated the festive season with a unique and innovative campaign where a striking Christmas tree was created on one of the airport’s runways using 32 airport vehicles adorned with lights and beacons. This impressive display, captured by drones, was a collaborative effort involving various airport departments.
In further spreading holiday magic, the airport hosted a charity Christmas market featuring products from organizations supporting individuals with disabilities and animals. Live musical performances by the Lucky Voice Band also entertained passengers throughout the airport. Also quite fun was the airport’s launch a website where users could create personalized Christmas cards featuring the runway Christmas tree. Travelers arriving on Christmas Eve were also treated to gingerbread cookies from local bakers.
With all this in mind, we hope the spirit of joy and generosity continues to inspire us all. May the new year bring smooth journeys, on-time performances, and many more unforgettable travel experiences!
Which airline or airport holiday celebration in 2024 made your travel experience more magical? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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