American’s new Airbus A321XLR debuts on transcontinental route

American has elevated transcontinental travel today with the inaugural flight of its Airbus A321XLR, carrying more than 150 passengers between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). As the only U.S.-based airline to operate the A321XLR, the aircraft is a class above the rest, offering customers a Flagship Suite^®, Premium Economy and Main Cabin experience.

Customers on the inaugural received a gift bag that included a specially designed flight tag to commemorate the aircraft’s first transcontinental flight.

As American takes delivery of additional A321XLR aircraft, the airline will schedule the aircraft on its transcontinental routes between Boston (BOS)-LAX and JFK-San Francisco (SFO) for service starting early next year. This additional transcontinental service will complement new service between JFK and Edinburgh, Scotland (EDI), that will launch on the XLR on March 8, 2026.

Departure airport	Arrival airport	Service start date
Boston (BOS)	Los Angeles (LAX)	July 2, 2026
New York (JFK)	San Francisco (SFO)	May 7, 2026

Featuring the luxurious 20 Flagship Suite^® seats, a dozen relaxing Premium Economy seats and 123 reimagined Main Cabin seats, American is offering customers a refined premium transcontinental journey with high-speed Wi-Fi and complimentary seatback entertainment featuring Bluetooth connectivity.

Customers traveling in the Flagship Suite^® seat have direct aisle access, lie-flat seating, more storage space and wireless charging. Premium Economy seats feature enhanced winged headrests, calf and footrests and wireless charging.

American Airlines sets the stage for summer with 15 new routes

While the holiday season is underway, American Airlines is looking ahead to next summer with 15 new routes for those looking to gift the perfect trip next year. American’s network already provides more one-stop connections than any other airline. Now, travelers will have more reasons to fly American when traveling across the country and the world next summer.

American’s new domestic routes

Departure airport	Arrival airport	Aircraft type	Service start date	Service end date	Frequency
Boston (BOS)	Madison, Wisconsin (MSN)	Embraer 175	June 18, 2026	Year-round	Once daily
BOS	Nantucket, Massachusetts (ACK)	E175	June 18, 2026	Sep. 8, 2026	Once daily
Charlotte (CLT)	Columbia, Missouri (COU)	E175	June 4, 2026	Year-round	Once daily
Chicago (ORD)	Erie, Pennsylvania (ERI)	Bombardier CRJ-700	May 21, 2026	Year-round	Once daily
ORD	Lincoln, Nebraska (LNK)	CRJ-700	June 4, 2026	Year-round	Once daily
ORD	Tri-Cities, Tennessee (TRI)	Embraer 170	May 21, 2026	Year-round	Once daily
Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)	LNK	CRJ-700	June 4, 2026	Year-round	Twice daily
DFW	Roanoke, Virginia (ROA)	Bombardier CRJ-900	June 4, 2026	Year-round	Once daily
Miami (MIA)	Jackson, Mississippi (JAN)	E175	March 14, 2026	Aug. 1, 2026	Once weekly on Saturdays
Phoenix (PHX)	Abilene, Texas (ABI)	E175	June 4, 2026	Year-round	Once daily
PHX	Anchorage, Alaska (ANC)	Airbus A321neo	May 21, 2026	Sept. 8, 2026	Once daily
PHX	Bozeman, Montana (BZN)	E175	June 4, 2026	Sept. 8, 2026	Once daily
PHX	Kalispell, Montana (FCA)	CRJ-700	June 19, 2026	Sept. 6, 2026	Twice weekly
PHX	LNK	CRJ-700	Winter 2026	Seasonal	Once daily
PHX	McAllen, Texas (MFE)	E175	June 4, 2026	Year-round	Once daily
PHX	Rapid City, South Dakota (RAP)	E175	June 4, 2026	Oct. 4, 2026	Once daily

American’s growing Chicago hub

American will offer more than 500 daily departures from Chicago (ORD) next summer as part of its continued commitment to the hub. The airline has added new service to more than 25 destinations from ORD and added frequencies in other markets this year, making the airport one of the fastest-growing hubs in the country. With this momentum, American is focused on thoughtfully growing its ORD network to more than 180 destinations and adding more flights in popular markets.

This growth will continue in 2026 with the addition of service to Erie, Pennsylvania (ERI); Lincoln, Nebraska (LNK); and Tri-Cities, Tennessee (TRI). And, as customers have positively responded to American’s winter network, the airline will extend winter-only offerings to Santa Fe, New Mexico (SAF) and Key West, Florida (EYW) into the summer between May 21 and Sept. 8.

Separately, American will also expand summer service from ORD to Hilton Head, South Carolina (HHH), and to Pensacola (PNS) and Panama City (ECP) in Florida. Previously operated only on the weekends, flights to these cities will operate daily between Feb. 12 and Sept. 8.

American will continue to grow options for Chicagoans to travel with increased frequencies across the airline’s network. In the spring, American will increase departures by more than 30% compared to 2025, offering more than 480 peak daily departures from ORD just in time for spring break.

All destinations served from ORD this spring will return next year, making American the only hub carrier at the airport to achieve this feat. As part of its demonstrated investment in Chicago, the airline will offer more than 25 additional destinations next spring versus 2025, including a mix of new destinations and seasonal routes that will start earlier.

All of American’s flights from ORD operate with dual-class aircraft, giving customers the opportunity to enhance their travel experience with the selection of a premium cabin. In addition, American’s ORD to London (LHR) route will continue to offer Flagship Suite^® seats for customers. Chicago was the first city in American’s network to receive this elevated premium offering.

Connecting smaller cities with the world

Traveling across the country and around the world will be easier than before on American’s global network. Starting June 4, American will add service to its 240th destination in the U.S.: Lincoln, Nebraska (LNK). No other airline serves as many domestic destinations as American, and now residents from LNK will have competitive one-stop service to international destinations such as Athens, Greece (ATH); Cancun, Mexico (CUN); Rome (FCO) and Sao Paulo (GRU).

In the Western U.S., American will grow its Phoenix (PHX) hub with seven new routes. New service to Bozeman, Montana (BZN); Kalispell, Montana (FCA); and Rapid City, South Dakota (RAP) will make it easier for travelers from states including California, Nevada and Arizona to get to national parks, monuments and more. Meanwhile, new flights to Abilene (ABI) and McAllen (MFE) in Texas will provide travelers one-stop access to destinations across the Western U.S. and Mexico.

This growth is part of American’s consistent commitment to powering global access through its hubs. Recently, the airline launched service to cities including Carlsbad, California (CLD); Golden Triangle, Mississippi (GTR); Santa Maria, California (SMX); and Sun Valley, Idaho (SUN). In 2026, the airline will also be the only airline connecting the U.S. with Bimini, Bahamas (BIM), and will add service to Vero Beach, Florida (VRB).

Collectively, American’s hub airports power global access to more than 350 destinations around the world served by the airline. Together with American’s airline partners, customers can access more than 1,000 destinations.

Historic Ju 52 and Super Star aircraft completed in Lufthansa Group Hangar One

Lufthansa announced:

Just in time for the start of the anniversary year, the historic aircraft have been completed! The Junkers Ju 52 and Lockheed L-1649A Super Star have now been finally accepted at “Lufthansa Group Hangar One.” This means that the two central exhibits, which will soon be on display in the new conference and visitor center, are now complete. Over the past few months, the aircraft were delivered in individual parts by heavy transporters and have since been reassembled with great attention to detail in their new home near Frankfurt Airport.

The Junkers Ju 52 and the Lockheed Super Star will be the main attractions of the “Lufthansa Group Hangar One.” Thanks to a glass façade, visitors will also be able to admire these two icons of aviation history from the outside. The opening of the conference and visitor center coincides with the 100th anniversary of the founding of the first Deutsche Luft Hansa and underscores the importance of aviation history for the Lufthansa Group.

A picture gallery contains numerous photos from the delivery of the aircraft to the final acceptance. You can download the folder on the right in the margin column.

About the Ju 52:
The first Junkers Ju 52 was added to the Lufthansa fleet in 1932 and quickly became the backbone of the airline’s aircraft fleet. Valued for its economy and reliability, the aircraft accounted for around 50 percent of the Lufthansa fleet at that time.

The “Aunt Ju” is much more than an aircraft – it is a symbol of pioneering spirit, engineering excellence, and the fascination of aviation. With its striking corrugated metal appearance, three characteristic engines, and unparalleled reliability, the Ju 52 has captivated generations of pilots, passengers, and aviation enthusiasts. First developed in the 1930s, the Ju 52 set new standards in passenger and cargo transport. Its versatility made it an indispensable companion in civil and military aviation. Its robust construction and ability to land on unpaved runways in particular made it synonymous with reliability and innovation. Today, the Ju 52 is considered a cult aircraft that makes the hearts of aviation enthusiasts beat faster.

About the Super Star:
In 1957, the Lockheed Super Star joined the Lufthansa fleet and was the first aircraft to feature the Senator class, the most exclusive form of travel. It was mainly used for flights to New York, flying non-stop across the North Atlantic. The aircraft was also a technical masterpiece. With its four piston engines, it closed the chapter on classic propeller aircraft. These flights, which lasted up to 17 hours, took off from Hamburg, where the maintenance base was also located. The Super Star is 35.42 meters long and has a wingspan of 45.18 meters and a height of 7.12 meters.

About “Lufthansa Group Hangar One”:
In the immediate vicinity of the Lufthansa Aviation Center (LAC), the Lufthansa Group began construction of a new conference and visitor center at Frankfurt Airport in 2024, which will be a place for new forms of collaboration for employees and, at the same time, for customers, business partners, and aviation enthusiasts.

Lufthansa’s pioneering spirit and expertise will be tangible and experiential – especially in terms of shaping the future of aviation, but also with regard to the history of the company. Two restored Lufthansa aircraft will be on permanent display as the main historical attractions: the Junkers Ju 52 and the legendary Lockheed Super Star.

In an open gallery, visitors will be able to explore numerous exhibits from Lufthansa’s corporate history, some of which will be on public display for the first time. Like the group’s training and conference hotel “Lufthansa Seeheim,” the Frankfurt conference and visitor center will also be open for external events and will offer visitors catering services in a coffee lounge.

More airline news:

Aeroitalia will open a new base at Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport

AeroItalia has confirmed that it will open a new base at Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport in mid‑first quarter 2026, with operations scheduled to begin on February 2. The base will initially house two ATR 72‑600 aircraft, each with 68 seats, and will be staffed by around 20 crew members permanently based in Genoa. This move is designed to ensure service continuity and reliability, even if one aircraft is undergoing maintenance.

The first scheduled route from the new base will be daily flights between Genoa and Rome Fiumicino. The timetable includes morning and evening services on weekdays, a morning rotation on Saturdays, and an evening rotation on Sundays. This frequency is intended to provide consistent connectivity between Liguria and the Italian capital, complementing existing rail and road options.

AeroItalia’s leadership has emphasized that the Genoa base represents only the beginning of a broader expansion strategy. The company views Genoa as a promising market and intends to progressively add new destinations from the airport.

In other news, Aeroitalia has been ordered by an Italian court to change its name and branding by January 1, 2026. The ruling came after ITA Airways, which owns the historic Alitalia brand, argued that Aeroitalia’s name, logo, and tricolor design were too similar to Alitalia and could mislead consumers. The Rome appeals court sided with ITA in June 2025, overturning an earlier dismissal of the case. As part of the judgment, Aeroitalia must stop using its current identity across the European Union and disable its aeroitalia.com domain, with fines imposed for non‑compliance.

The airline has criticized the decision, claiming its branding reflects Italian heritage rather than imitation. Aeroitalia is considering appealing to Italy’s Supreme Court, though legal experts suggest the chances of success are slim. In the meantime, the carrier has hinted at rebranding opportunities, with “Italian Airways” already registered as a possible new name. However, analysts warn that this option could also face challenges due to its similarity to ITA Airways.

The name change poses significant financial and operational challenges for Aeroitalia. Repainting aircraft, updating signage, and revising marketing materials will cost millions, a heavy burden for a relatively small regional airline. Beyond the expense, the rebrand risks weakening Aeroitalia’s recognition in the Italian market, where it has emphasized patriotic branding and regional connectivity, particularly with flights to Sardinia and Sicily.

Air Canada prepares to welcome more than 2.3 million customers onboard this holiday season

’Tis the season for making memories, and for more than 2.3 million Air Canada customers, that starts the moment they arrive at the airport. Between December 18 and January 4, the airline expects to welcome close to 130,000 customers a day – surpassing 140,000 during peak periods – in one of its busiest travel weeks of the year.

Holiday Hospitality at Every Step of the Journey

“At Air Canada, the customer experience is at the core of everything we do, and we know that at this busy time of year and with unpredictable weather, holiday travel is exciting but can also be stressful,” says Tom Stevens, Vice President of Customer Experience and Service Operations. “Our teams are here to provide attentive care and help customers feels confident and comfortable throughout their journey. Especially our customers who may need an extra helping hand – whether that’s families with young children, or our customers with accessibility needs.”

The warm welcome for customers starts with our airline agents, there to help navigate the busy terminals – whether it’s directions to restrooms, charging stations, our lounges or simply offering an extra set of hands. And if it’s extra fuel you need, stop and say hi and grab a complimentary festive snack across many of our Canadian airports between December 18 and 24. The team will be handing out a selection of our onboard treats like LeClerc Célébration Cookies and TWIGZ buttery herb and garlic pretzels.

Earlier this month, Air Canada’s team members kicked off their efforts and surprised customers at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport with thoughtful gifts for the holiday season. See the smiles these surprises brought in this holiday video.

Innovations Making Every Journey Smoother

From major investments in aircraft cabins, new technology, and frontline training, the airline continues to transform the Air Canada travel experience. In 2025, Air Canada rolled out upgrades designed to boost comfort and confidence, including fast, free Wi-Fi for Aeroplan Members sponsored by Bell on North American and Sun routes, complimentary beer, wine and premium snacks – including non-alcoholic Heineken 0.0 – and new Air Canada Cafés at Montréal-Trudeau and Vancouver domestic terminals for a relaxed way to grab a pre-flight coffee or snack.

The Air Canada mobile app offers customers day-of-travel updates, with flight status, gate changes, and real-time baggage tracking helping them feel more in control of their trip. This includes a new tool that puts a human face to the hardworking employees loading and unloading customer baggage.

As always, Air Canada offers priority assistance for families, and customers with accessibility requirements. From contact centre agents and gate staff to cabin crews and baggage handlers, airline teams are committed to supporting every customer’s needs – whether that’s helping children travelling alone, assisting with tight connections, or ensuring smooth travel for those with accessibility requirements. The airline’s three-year Accessibility Plan, launched in 2023, guides ongoing investments and training to make travel more inclusive and seamless for all customers.

Seasonal Flavours on the Ground and in the Air

Air Canada is delivering a feast of festive flavours at airline lounges and in-flight. In select Maple Leaf Lounges, customers can enjoy curated regional Canadian favourites, from oven-roasted turkey to Beef Provençale, tourtière du Québec, pomegranate-roasted root vegetables and ragoût de boulettes d’antan. Guests can also indulge in classic holiday desserts such as gingerbread cookies, yule logs, panettone, and more.

The airline is also adding festive touches to menus in all cabins throughout December. On select Air Canada international outbound flights, customers can look forward to:

Economy: Red velvet cookies, and broccoli and cranberry salad
Premium Economy: Hot chocolate, TWIGZ Cinnamon Churro pretzels, and broccoli and cranberry salad
Air Canada Signature Class: Festive turkey roulade meal, cranberry Aperol spritz, and San Sebastian cheesecake with cranberry and orange compote

Beyond festive food and drink offerings, Air Canada is bringing extra holiday cheer to make the journey feel special for all customers. On December 25, children 12 and under on select routes may receive a Lindt teddy bear – a small keepsake to start their journey with a smile. For cozy, fun-filled moments in the air, customers can choose from more than 50 holiday-themed titles on Air Canada’s award-winning in-flight entertainment system, including The Holdovers, 23 décembre, Home Alone, La Guerre des Tuques and The Polar Express.

Raising the Bar on Air Canada Travel in 2026

Beyond the holiday season, Air Canada is looking forward to an exciting 2026, with new routes connecting customers to even more destinations, new aircraft featuring redesigned cabins for elevated comfort, and a range of new customer-focused products and services designed to make every journey smoother and more enjoyable.

American Airlines to renovate additional Admirals Club lounge in Washington, D.C.

American Airlines is renovating its popular Admirals Club^® lounge in Concourse D of Reagan National Airport (DCA). The renovated lounge will span more than 10,000 square feet, adding approximately 50% more seating and giving customers more room to recharge and relax ahead of their journey.

The redesigned lounge will take design inspiration from the city, including local design elements that reflect the rich history of Washington, D.C. It will also feature airside views of the United States Capitol and Washington Monument.

American operates more than 255 peak daily flights out of DCA, connecting customers to more than 90 destinations. The airline remains committed to serving the D.C. community and delivering a world-class travel experience.

This project will result in the second fully refurbished Admirals Club^® lounge for American at DCA, reinforcing the company’s broader commitment to elevating the premium customer experience. Construction is targeted to begin in early 2026. During construction, the current lounge space will close, and customers will continue to be able to access the Admirals Club^® lounges in Concourses C and E.

American’s plans to upgrade its DCA lounge offering is the latest in a series of investments reflecting its commitment to enhancing the customer experience, with news earlier this year of additional Admirals Club^® lounges, plus new Flagship^® lounges in both Charlotte and Miami.

Emirates rolls out retrofitted Boeing 777s with Premium Economy to Beirut and Beijing

Emirates has announced that retrofitted Boeing 777-300 aircraft featuring Premium Economy will serve flights EK953/954 between Dubai and Beirut from January 6, 2026 and flights EK306/307 between Dubai and Beijing, starting from February 1, 2026. *

Beijing becomes the fourth city in the Chinese mainland to receive Emirates’ latest aircraft and next-gen products, while travellers to and from Beirut will experience the airline’s award-winning Premium Economy and new Business Class cabin in 1-2-1 layout for the first time.

For Lebanon’s capital city, EK953 departs Dubai at 1540hrs, arriving in Beirut at 1700hrs, with the return EK954 departing at 1945hrs and arriving in Dubai at 0050hrs. ** The schedule offers seamless connections to and from major cities with significant Lebanese diaspora communities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane as well as New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Miami and Montreal. Customers can enjoy a consistent Premium Economy experience across both legs of their journey, with many of these cities being served by retrofitted Boeing 777s and A380s featuring the airline’s latest interiors.

Emirates’ flight EK306 departs Dubai at 3:20hrs, arriving in Beijing at 14:45hrs. The return flight EK307 takes off from Beijing at 00:40hrs, landing in Dubai at 5:30hrs. ** Travellers can enjoy a consistent Premium Economy experience from Beijing to popular destinations across Emirates’ global network, including London Heathrow, New York JFK, São Paulo, Johannesburg, Madrid, Malé and Lisbon, as well as key cities in the Gulf region such as Kuwait, Riyadh and Amman.

The refurbished four-class Emirates Boeing 777-300 features upgraded interiors with new design elements, including modern colour palettes, specially designed Ghaf Tree motifs, and wood finishes across all cabins. Each aircraft includes 260 of the latest-generation Economy seats, 24 Premium Economy seats, 40 Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, and eight First Class Suites.

Emirates’ Premium Economy has garnered glowing feedback for its unique value and standout features. Passengers can expect a Business Class-like experience at a more accessible price, featuring spacious leather seats with a generous recline, full leg and footrests, adjustable headrests, in-seat charging points, a wood-finished side cocktail table, and a 13.3-inch TV screen. Premium Economy also includes generously sized pillows and blankets, complimentary amenity kits on select flights, and globally exclusive sparkling wine – Chandon Vintage Brut 2017.

Emirates’ Boeing 777 Business Class cabin has also been redesigned, with seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration to offer privacy, full aisle access, and ample space to work, lounge, and rest. Each seat is wrapped in champagne leather, matching the ones on the latest Emirates A380, with detailed stitching and soft, cushioned headrests.

* Aircraft deployment may be advanced if released earlier from refurbishment

TransNusa has successfully launched four new domestic routes

TransNusa has successfully launched four new domestic routes on December 15, securing 19 routes in total within three years of operations.

Within 6 months of its operations, TransNusa launched its first international route between Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur, followed by three additional international routes in that same year, including Singapore and China.

TransNusa also implemented a milestones as well as initiated and developed new domestic routes, such as the Bali-Manado route.

In addition, TransNusa  the first Indonesian airline to operate regular scheduled international flights into Guanzhou from three destinations in Indonesia.

TransNusa’s flight from Bali to Lombok will operate two times daily beginning Monday, December 15. The TransNusa flight will depart Bali from the Denpasar International Airport at 07.30am and arrive in Lombok International Airport at 07.55am, with the return flight departing Lombok at 08.25am and arriving in Bali at 09.05am. The second TransNusa flight will depart Bali at 15.55pm and arrive in Lombok at 16.50pm, with the return flight departing Lombok at 17.20pm and arriving in Bali at 18.05pm.

“We will increase the frequency of the scheduled flights for the Bali-Lombok route to three times daily on December 21.” Said Datuk Bernard.

The third scheduled flight will depart Bali at 18.55pm and arrive at Lombok at 19.35pm. The scheduled flight from Lombok will depart at 20.00pm and arrive in Bali at 20.25pm.

Meanwhile, TransNusa’s flight from Bali to Bima will also begin on Monday, December 15.

“For the first week, we will operate one scheduled flight from Bali to Bima on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

“Starting December 22, TransNusa will operate daily scheduled flights from Bali to Bima,” said Datuk Bernard, adding that the flight will depart Bali from the Denpasar International Airport at 09.35am and arrive at 10.35am at the Sultan Muhammad Salahuddin Airport in Bima.

The return flight will depart Bima’s Sultan Muhammad Salahuddin Airport at 11.00am and arrive at Bali’s Denpasar International Airport at 12.10pm.

Meanwhile, TransNusa’s schedule flight from Sorong to Timika will operate four times weekly on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The flight, which will also begin on December 15, will depart Sorong from the Domine Eduard Osok International Airport at 10.50am and arrive in Timika’s Mozes Kilangin Airport at 12.10pm. The return flight will depart Timika at 12.40pm and arrive in Sorong at 14.00pm.

On the much sought-after Manado-Sorong route, Datuk Bernard said that TransNusa’s will operate its scheduled flight from Manado to Sorong four times weekly.

The scheduled flight from diving haven Manado will operate on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The flight will depart Manado’s Sam Ratulangi International AIrport at 08.00am and arrive in Sorong’s Domine Eduard Osok International Airport at 10.20am. The return flight will depart Sorong at 14.30pm and arrive in Manado at 14.50pm.

airBaltic Increases frequencies on over 30 existing routes from the Baltics for Summer 2026

airBaltic has announced frequency increases on more than 30 existing routes across the Baltics for the Summer 2026 season. The airline will increase frequencies on 20 routes from Riga (Latvia), four from Tallinn (Estonia) and seven from Vilnius (Lithuania). This expansion will offer passengers more convenient travel choices and improved connectivity.

For the upcoming summer season, airBaltic will launch ten new routes from the Baltic capitals. From Riga, flights will operate to Antalya (Turkey), Gothenburg (Sweden), Kaunas (Lithuania), Oulu (Finland), and Warsaw (Poland). From Tallinn, the airline will launch flights to Athens (Greece), Hamburg (Germany), and Vienna (Austria), while from Vilnius, new flights will connect to Chisinau (Moldova) and Zurich (Switzerland).

airBaltic will also resume four routes – from Riga to Aberdeen (United Kingdom), Belgrade (Serbia), and Yerevan (Armenia), and from Tallinn to Oslo (Norway). The new routes and frequency increases will provide passengers with more travel opportunities and greater flexibility when planning business or leisure trips.

This expansion will increase seat capacity across all three Baltic States – 12% in Riga with more than 400 thousand additional seats, 11% in Tallinn with over 90 thousand additional seats, and 21% in Lithuania (Vilnius, Palanga and Kaunas) with more than 150 thousand additional seats.

More airline news:

Icelandair unveils a new Christmas video

Icelandair, in partnership with creative agency Hvíta húsið, today unveiled its dark new Christmas commercial, a modern, humorous, and heartfelt take on Icelandic folklore that places the legendary Yule Cat at the center of a story about kindness, connection, and being “travel-ready” for the holidays.

The narrative draws directly from Iceland’s dark Christmas folklore. Traditionally, the Yule Cat (Jólakötturinn) is a giant, menacing feline said to roam around before Christmas, devouring anyone – especially children – who do not receive new clothes for the holiday. The legend historically served as both a moral lesson and a tool to encourage hard work and gift-giving.

In the film, a young boy discovers the bedraggled Yule Cat alone in an alley and takes it upon himself to help the fearsome feline prepare for a Christmas journey abroad -teaching manners, tidying up, and attempting the impossible: getting an old Yule Cat to sit. Their unlikely friendship blends wit, warmth, and the universal joy of helping others, transforming a creature long feared into a symbol of care and generosity.

Icelandair’s commercial honours this fearsome folklore while reframing it through compassion: rather than punishing the unprepared, the Yule Cat is embraced, cared for, and helped along its journey. The story also nods to the final verses of the beloved poem by Jóhannes úr Kötlum, which urges kindness toward those who “receive nothing” and “suffer from the world’s lack of light.”