At a glance:
- Father Christmas has been given permission ahead of Christmas Eve to enter UK airspace.
- Civil Aviation Authority inspectors have also checked Santa’s sleigh is safe to fly.
Father Christmas now has all the required approvals to fly on Christmas Eve. The Civil Aviation Authority has also confirmed that his sleigh has passed vital safety checks ahead of taking to the air.
Safety inspectors from the Civil Aviation Authority checked:
- Presents are stowed away safely and securely.
- The aircrew understand the vehicle’s elf and safety procedures.
- Christmas cheer is handled by qualified experts.
- The sleigh bells ring at an acceptable decibel level.
Andrew McConnell, Deputy Director of Communications at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:
“We’ve made a list and checked it twice and Santa is now cleared to fly on Christmas Eve.
“But he won’t be the only one in the skies this festive season. If you’re jetting off on a Christmas getaway, it’s important to know your passenger rights before you travel.
"The Civil Aviation Authority works to keep the aviation industry safe every day of the year - including Christmas!"
For all those not flying by sleigh this Christmas the Civil Aviation Authority is encouraging passengers to 'Know Before You Go'. This Christmas is expected to be the busiest for flying since before the pandemic. These six festive tips will help make flying easier:
- Know that if your flight is delayed your airline should look after you.
- Be aware that if your flight is cancelled you should be offered a choice of a refund or alternative travel arrangements.
- Check your baggage allowance and contents in advance
- Know that lost or damaged luggage is the responsibility of the airline.
- Check your airline’s lithium batteries policy before you take off.
- When packing know that party poppers are banned from being flown in aircraft, Christmas crackers can only be packed in their original packaging.
Notes to Editor
- High resolution images of the CAA inspecting Santa's sleight are available upon request.
- With thanks to Covent Garden for providing the sleigh.
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