Christmas may be a time for many people to stay on home with loved ones but many take advantage of the annual holiday to go abroad. But will those travelling on Christmas Day still get to enjoy festivities? Fortunately, many major airlines are making the most of the festive season, whether they’re dressing up or providing a full roast dinner. This is how airlines from Ryanair to easyJet will be making the most of Christmas this year.
British Airways
BA passengers will be able to enjoy a Christmas on board. The airline will serve 66,000 Christmas dinners in total over the festive season. To be precise, 330,000 brussels sprouts will be prepped alongside 270,000 roast potatoes and 8250kgs of turkey.
A record number of mince pies will also be served, with nearly 100,000 of the festive treats given out to customers.
They will also offer up to 40 new Christmas films, TV show episodes and audio available, including popular favourites Elf and The Holiday.
Ryanair
Ryanair will not be offering flights on Christmas Day – the only day in the calendar when Ryanair does not fly.
The last flight on Christmas Eve will land at 5.55pm and they will resume on Boxing Day.
Virgin Atlantic
Virgin will be offering a full festive feast. “We always offer a full Christmas dinner onboard in all cabins,” an airline spokeswoman told Express.co.uk.
“Customers can tuck into roast turkey, potatoes, pigs in blankets and all the trimmings.”
The airline has also branched in the fashion sphere with their very own Christmas jumper.
“The jumper will be worn by all the cabin crew and airport teams over Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Even founder Sir Richard Branson will be sporting one all the way from the Caribbean!” said the spokeswoman.
EasyJet
EasyJet, like Ryanair, has no flights on Christmas Day and will not be celebrating the holiday.
A spokeswoman told Express.co.uk: “There isn’t anything special of note” over the festive season.
Emirates
Passengers travelling in Economy will be able to enjoy a festive menu – turkey roll with mashed potato, pan-fried Vienna Chicken Sausage, green peas, baby carrots and cranberry jus lié followed by milk chocolate mousse with cranberry compote topped with a reindeer chocolate button.
However, those in First and Business class will benefit from an even more superior feast – roasted turkey breast and apricot stuffing, roast potatoes with creamy brussels sprouts with turkey bacon and cranberry jus lié followed by festive sweets such as a chocolate Yule log garnished with meringue drops, chocolate stars and a Gingerbread Man or a Chocolate Mint dome decorated with snow fondant and a festive leaf served with crème anglaise.
Young flyers this festive season will also receive a chocolate lollipop featuring a reindeer with all children’s lunches and dinners.
No matter which airline or class holidaymakers are travelling this winter, passengers need to remember there are certain popular festive items they won’t be able to pack in their hand luggage.
For instance, brandy butter may start off solid but at the end of a flight it can turn into a liquid which means airlines count it as such, so again, it will have to be under 100ml to be able to fly with you. The same rule applies to camembert.
Christmas crackers are also a tricky item. Under heightened security measures, airlines such as Ryanair, Etihad, Emirates and Norwegian Airlines have all banned Christmas crackers.
