Airberlin (Berlin) following in its tradition, yesterday (November 27) launched its 2014 Christmas special livery on Boeing 737-86J D-ABML (msn 37773). The airline has also announced a “spotter contest”. The airline issued this statement:
Boeing 737-800 bearing the code D-ABML entered into service as the 2014 Christmas aircraft, and can be found flying around the Airberlin route network. The elaborate motif is the work of illustrator Thies Schwarz. ‘This was the biggest picture I’ve ever done,’ said Schwarz in reference to the challenge of creating the 2.3 m tall, 18.7 m long motif. In the place of the usual airberlin lettering, the fuselage is festooned with a Christmas landscape, and below it reads the Airberlin Christmas motto: ‘Flying home for Christmas’. The windows of the aircraft also serve as the windows of the houses in the scene. ‘I’m looking forward to the impact it will have in the dark: once the windows are lit, the Christmas spirit can really unfold,’ says Schwarz.
The aircraft decorated in Christmas livery was greeted at Terminal C of Berlin’s Tegel Airport with a special surprise: within seconds, departure gates 44 and 45 turned into a winter wonderland with Christmas trees, a merry-go-round for children and snowflakes. airberlin staff dressed as Christmas angels and elves handed out mulled wine and chocolate hearts to the 700 guests in Terminal C before the Christmas aircraft took off at 5 pm for Stockholm.
‘The 2014 Christmas aircraft continues an Airberlin tradition that goes back to 2011. A digital Christmas plane on our website in 2010 led to many guests calling for a real Christmas aircraft. The annual presentation of the unusual aircraft also marks the start of our Christmas festivities. Airberlin passengers can look forward to special festive snacks on board: gingerbread or Lebkuchen (a traditional German cake) and 1,240,000 Christmas-edition chocolate hearts. On Airberlin flights within Germany or to Austria and Switzerland, as well as in the waiting areas in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich and Vienna we will be inviting our passengers for a glass of mulled wine from 4 pm; we will be pouring a total of 7,100 litres over the Christmas season. As for food, the Sansibar restaurant classic ‘duck in orange sauce with a seasonally stuffed baked apple, potato dumplings and red cabbage’ is also especially popular in the winter months: the dish is ordered close to 2,000 times between October and March,’ says Aage Dünhaupt, SVP of Communications at Airberlin.
Airberlin’s social media channels are also buzzing with the Christmas spirit: from Facebook, to Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, Airberlin is making the most of all channels to spread the festive cheer with exciting offers. For example, on the prize-winning Instagram page with more than 13,000 followers, users can upload a Christmas photo with the hashtag #flyinghomeforchristmas for a chance to win free flights. Fans will also have the chance to win flights on Facebook through a worldwide search for Santa.
Photos: Airberlin.
