Santa flights on Shannon’s radar

Santa’s busiest annual day in the region – short of December 25th itself – is already on the arrival and departure’s board at Shannon Airport, with confirmation this week that the Santa Flights are set to return next month.

Saturday and Sunday, December 3 and 4, have been confirmed by the airport as the day it will put on what has become the biggest children’s treat in the region in the build up to Christmas Day.

Now in its fourth year, this year’s Santa flights will see Shannon Airport treat over 2,000 in total, comprising children and guardians, to the magical moment in the sky when they get to meet with the big man himself on board a 737 flight some 15,000ft above sea level.

This year again Shannon Airport will donate proceeds from the nominal €9.99 fee to its designated charities, which for 2016 are Galway’s Ábalta Special School for children with autism and complex needs and the Irish Children’s Arthritis Network (iCAN). Seats will also be set aside on flights over the two days for the charity partners.

With the demand for the flights set again to significantly exceed seat availability, Shannon Airport will assign the tickets by lottery. Forms can be accessed on the airport website only at www.shannonairport.ie and can be submitted up to the deadline of November 9.

The flights were introduced in 2013 to mark the airport’s first year as an independent entity and act as a thank-you to the region for its support. But such was the success that the gesture has since been repeated on an annual basis.

Announcing the Santa flights Matthew Thomas, CEO, Shannon Group said: “Any day when you have hundreds of young children pouring through the airport beaming with excitement at the prospect of getting to meet Santa high in the sky on board an aircraft is a day when you’re going to have a lot of fun.
“We are grateful to our staff volunteers who give their time over the two days and the support of partners at Swissport to make this an extra special event. Staff at the airport and across our Group companies pour their hearts into creating a really special sprinkle of Christmas magic.”

That magic begins for children on arrival, with characters from their favourite cartoons on hand to welcome the special guests as the transit lounge is transformed into a winter playground. There will be a disco, elves, a puppet show, face painting and plenty of other fun and games.

Said Chairman of Shannon Group Rose Hynes: “We continue to have the loyalty and support of the people of the region and this is a way of saying ‘thanks’ for that. Our Santa Flights have proved hugely popular, way beyond our expectations, which is great both for the children who get to participate and for our charity partners who benefit directly.”