This year the design of the Christmas plane resembles a string of fairy lights. There is a candle-like light for each day of Advent. "The windows of the aircraft constitute the flames of the candles. For the first time we have a Christmas design that achieves a completely different effect at night to that created during the daytime. The aircraft has an especially atmospheric ambience on evening flights," said André Rahn, Senior Vice President Marketing. The interior of the plane is also decorated in festive mood with specially-designed headrest covers.
Helsinki Airport director Ville Haapasaari warmly welcomes the airberlin Christmas aircraft: "We are very happy to welcome the airberlin Christmas aircraft at Helsinki airport on our Independence Day, as the Santa Claus has just arrived at the airport the previous day."
The Boeing with the registration D-ABMS, which is affectionately known as "Merry Santa", arrived at Hangar 7 at Dusseldorf Airport on 13th November. First of all, the fuselage of the aircraft was thoroughly cleaned. On 14th November the seven-man airberlin technik team started work. The first step was to once again clean all the surfaces to be decorated with special detergent. Next the sheeting, which is certified for aviation and specially UV-resistant, was mounted on the fuselage of the aircraft. Finally, an edge sealer was applied to the leading edges in order to prevent the sheeting from peeling away and to guarantee optimal airflow. The sheeting with the fairy light design is just 80 micrometres thick, measures 15.32 m in length and is 1.87 m high. The inaugural flight for airberlin's Christmas aircraft went from Dusseldorf to Copenhagen on 18th November 2013.
In 2010, the airberlin Christmas aircraft appeared for the first time in digital form on airberlin.com. In response to requests from numerous guests, the first actual airberlin aircraft in Christmas livery took to the skies in November 2011. airberlin is the first German airline to have a Christmas aircraft.
The complete route of the aircraft can be followed on airberlin’s website
Are you visiting the airport at the same time as Santa Claus?
Check out the scenic terrace location and opening hours
