United Airlines Fantasy Flight flies 60 children from Rainbows for All Children to the North Pole

United Guam teams up with The Super American Circus to create an unforgettable experience for the children 

 

GUAM, Dec. 15, 2022 – United Airlines’ Fantasy Flight is Guam’s most magical flight of the year, and in 2022, United’s employee volunteers teamed up with The Super American Circus to put on an unforgettable experience for the children of Rainbows for All Children – Guam, an international nonprofit peer support group for children and adults who have experienced life-altering crises or loss.

The annual Fantasy Flight tradition, which took place on Dec. 15, welcomed 60 children and their chaperones aboard flight UA2764, a United Boeing 737-800 aircraft, bound for the North Pole. After takeoff, United flight attendants danced and sang for the children and navigated their carts down the aisle to deliver United gift bags and goodies to every child. For many of the children, Fantasy Flight was the first time they had boarded an airplane and took to the skies.

“Fantasy Flight is an important 32-year company tradition for United. It allows us to do what we do best to bring holiday cheer to those who need it most. This year marks our eighth Fantasy Flight event in Guam, and our team continues to find ways to surprise the children. They are the reason we host this event each year,” said Sam Shinohara, United Managing Director for Airport Operations - Asia/Pacific.

United partnered with The Super American Circus to add next-level holiday magic to the event. The Super American Circus created a 30-minute holiday show specially for Rainbows for All Children that included jugglers, acrobats, and lively clowns.

Shinohara said, “We are excited to say that we are the first Fantasy Flight event to join forces with a circus. Seeing the children’s eyes light up in amazement is something we won’t forget.”

In addition to the dynamic circus show, the event included performances by the St. Anthony School Honor Choir, singer/songwriter Isabella Santiago, violinist Bethany Scull, costumed superheroes from Steel Athletics, and SKIP Entertainment. The children were treated to holiday activities, face painting, Happy Meals from McDonald’s of Guam, and refreshments before receiving their presents from Santa.

“An important part of Fantasy Flight is fulfilling the children’s wishes. Weeks before the event, we ask them to write a letter to Santa to share their top three Christmas wishes. Our employee elves then get to work to fulfill them. At the end of the night, the children’s gifts magically appeared from Santa,” said Shinohara.

Rainbows for All Children - Guam

This year’s beneficiary is Rainbows for All Children - Guam, an international not-for-profit research-based peer support group for children, adolescents, and adults going through life-altering crises or experiencing the loss of a significant loved one. Rainbows is supported solely by private and public partnerships with Guam’s entrepreneurs, organizations, and individuals who would like to make a difference in the life of the youth. Rainbows for All Children - Guam has helped more than 25,000 children since 1987. For more information or to support the organization, contact Marie Virata-Halloran, Rainbows for All Children - Guam Executive Director at 671-632-0257.

32 Years of Fantasy Flight Tradition 

For more than three decades, United Airlines has hosted Fantasy Flights at major hubs around the globe. The Guam Hub is one of nine stations in the U.S. to offer the exclusive Fantasy Flight in 2022. Other participating stations include Denver, Newark, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Houston, Chicago, and San Francisco. In Guam, 160 employee volunteers worked cheerfully to organize the event, raise money for gifts, solicit donations, purchase gifts, and design an unforgettable holiday experience for the children. Worldwide, more than 1,600 employees volunteer annually throughout the United system.

Community Partners 

United Airlines thanks its Fantasy Flight community partners and volunteers whose continued support has made the event a success for the children. The North Pole featured performances, holiday treats, and activities that were made possible by The Super American Circus, McDonald’s of Guam, SKIP Entertainment, St. Anthony School Honor Choir, Steel Athletics, face painting by Lorzalyn and Nancy Dulay, Guam Airport Authority, Aviation Services Alliance, and United employees and volunteers.

“United is grateful for the support it received from our employee volunteers who have organized and managed this event in Guam over the past nine years. We thank our community partners who generously contributed to the event. On behalf of Guam’s hometown airline, we wish everyone a safe and joyous holiday season,” Shinohara added.

About United

United's shared purpose is "Connecting People. Uniting the World." From our U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark/New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers. United is bringing back our customers' favorite destinations and adding new ones on its way to becoming the world's best airline. For more about how to join the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers, and more information about the company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "UAL".

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