Air Transat Hosts Special Flights to the North Pole
For the 11th year in a row, Air Transat and The Children’s Wish Foundation teamed up to create a magical, unforgettable experience for hundreds of sick children across Canada as part of the Flights in Search of Santa event.
These annual flights bound for the North Pole take off simultaneously from Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. Air Transat is also donating more than $143,000 to the foundation, representing the amounts collected over the past year as part of the air carrier’s Small Change, Big Hearts program and other initiatives.
The memorable day began at the Air Transat check-in counter at Montreal-Trudeau airport, where some 250 passengers, including children living with severe illnesses, along with members of their families, received their boarding passes for the North Pole. They then made their way to the boarding lounge, where a number of festive activities awaited. Finally, they took their seats in the aircraft for a 90-minute flight during which Santa Claus made a surprise appearance and distributed presents to the wide-eyed children.
This year, Air Transat also brought the magic of Christmas to France as well – the carrier joined forces with Aéroports de Paris and the Association Petits Princes to make dreams come true for sick kids and offer their loved ones a day of magic and joy.
“For Air Transat, this annual get-together is a mainstay of the Holiday season, and a favourite event of our employees,” said Jean-Francois Lemay, general manager, Air Transat. “A child’s smile truly brings tidings of comfort and joy, and we in turn are delighted to bring a little magic into the lives of hundreds of children with severe illnesses, across Canada and now in France as well, with our first flight from Paris.”
The annual Flights in Search of Santa are made possible thanks to the generous collaboration of several partners including Montreal-Trudeau, Toronto Pearson and Vancouver International airports, and the volunteer efforts of Air Transat employees.
