Air NZ, Virgin spread the Christmas cheer
Airlines face plenty of flak over the course of a year so let’s hear it for Air New Zealand and Virgin Atlantic, which are sharing the Christmas spirit.
Virgin Atlantic is offering passengers travelling through London Heathrow, the chance to wrap last minute gifts for their loved ones, after passing through security – but before boarding the plane.
Airports prefer that all presents carried by passengers remain unwrapped for security reasons.


This one-off service will be available prior to boarding at the gate area by specially trained elves who will wrap up the gift with decorative ribbons and a large bow and gift tag.
A donation of £1 will go to Virgin Atlantic’s named charity, Free The Children.
Meanwhile, Air New Zealand is planning to turn one of its 777-200ER aircraft into a unique Christmas “sleigh†for the children of Christchurch.
The airline will deck out its long-haul aircraft with Christmas cheer and gift it to the kids of Christchurch to experience a scenic flight to Aoraki Mt Cook area.
The “Christmas Cheer in the Air†service will carry around 150 young Cantabrians accompanied by a parent or guardian on the one-hour round trip.
Air New Zealand’s chief pilot David Morgan says the 777-200ER will be on a day’s layover in Christchurch so the airline wanted to grab the opportunity to do something special for a community which has had a very tough time after devastating earthquakes.
Ian Jarrett
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