British Airways turns on the festive charm

British Airways launches its British Original Christmas for 2023 

The airline is decking its halls for its biggest celebration yet as it expects to serve more than 380,000 Christmas dinners, including more than 600,000 Brussel sprouts and 8,000 yule logs* 

This festive season the UK's largest legacy carrier, British Airways is rolling out a whole raft of onboard enhancements to help passengers enjoy this time of year.  The airline is introducing a new menu, festive soaps and scents, hours of Christmas classics, as well as a number of sweet treats. 

From the moment customers step foot into London Heathrow, Gatwick and City airports, they will notice the decked-out halls with festive check-in screens, Christmas décor and seasonal music playing. Customers travelling through the airline’s lounges can tuck into bespoke Christmas menus, cookies, gingerbread and mulled wine, as well as soak up a special festive scent featuring cinnamon and festive spices.   

The airline has partnered with Hotel Chocolat to offer customers a hot chocolate winter warmer in its Concorde Room, or a festive chocolate cream cocktail in its First lounge. The airline has also commissioned a British Original artist to create a winter wonderland for customers on the walkway between its main lounges in Heathrow Terminal 5. The masterpiece will be carefully painted using ‘snow graffiti’ and feature a British skyline scene with snowy décor. The art will be created live across the first two days of December for customers to watch. 

As British Airways customers board over the festive period, they will notice Christmas music ahead of settling into their seats that will be decorated with specially designed festive headrest covers, featuring the airline’s bespoke Christmas ribbon design. All customers will also be handed farewell chocolates when they depart from their flight.  

Taking the celebrations to 35,000ft, customers travelling on the airline´s long-haul flights can tuck into traditional Christmas dinners* served on festive themed trays. The airline expects to serve a staggering 380,000 Christmas dinners, which includes more than 600,000 Brussells sprouts and 8,000 Yule logs.  

A dedicated Christmas countdown inflight entertainment channel with more than 20 classic Christmas films and 50 TV Christmas specials to choose from

British Airways’ customers can also enjoy more than 1,500 hours of inflight entertainment, which includes more than 20 classic Christmas films and 50 TV Christmas specials on its dedicated ‘Christmas countdown’ channel. Travellers will also notice festive scented soap in the airline’s onboard restrooms.  

As a special gift to the airline’s most premium customers travelling on December 24 and 25, British Airways will present each passenger with a beautifully hand painted, bespoke glass Christmas bauble.  

Calum Laming, British Airways’ Chief Customer Officer, said: “Christmas is one of our favourite times of the year – customers and colleagues alike – and we’re all really excited to spread some holiday cheer over the coming weeks, both at the airport and in the skies.   

“We hope these special touches, both big and small, help make our customers’ journey, wherever it may be, as original and extra special as possible. To all our customers, however you are celebrating, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!” 

The airline’s customers travelling in Euro Traveller on short-haul flights will also be able to choose from a selection of festive treats avaliable to purchase through the airline’s High Life Café. This includes Tom Kerridge’s turkey feast sandwich, Pullin’s Gingerbread Muffin, and LoveRaw’s vegan M:lk Choc Cre&m bar. Customers can also choose from a variety of Christmas drinks, including Black Cow’s Christmas Spirit vodka and Brewdog’s Elf lager.   

British Airways has also launched its ‘Big Little Welcome’ campaign, giving customers the opportunity to greet loved ones with a welcome message that could be displayed across billboards and airport screens when they arrive at Heathrow, Gatwick and City airport over the Christmas period.   

The airline is inviting customers to spread their holiday cheer and submit their welcome messages here, for family and friends travelling to London from December 15 - 24.

*Stats are from flights departing Heathrow and Gatwick  

**Customers will be able to delve into the airline’s specially designed festive menus on every long-haul flight across all cabins, from today until 4 January 2024. Dishes include: 

Customers travelling in its First can enjoy a delicious chestnut stuffed British roast turkey main course with all the trimmings and a decadent chocolate yule log.  

In Club World (business class), the airline is serving British roast turkey and a chocolate orange mousse.  

For those in World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and World Traveller (economy) will also be able to enjoy a traditional Christmas roast turkey dinner accompanied by a mince pie.  

Christmas-themed snacks will also be available as part of the airline’s mid-flight snack box offering.