Flight takes kids to visit Santa at North Pole scene in transformed Denver airport hangar

DENVER — Dozens of kids cheered on a festively decked-out plane in Denver on Saturday when the pilot announced their goal for the day: the North Pole.

More than 100 children, some of whom have solemn health issues, were then taken on a roughly 45-minute flight near the city before landing back at Denver International Airport and being towed to a hangar transformed by United Airlines employees and volunteers into the North Pole.

Streamers, document snowflakes and tufts of cotton resembling feathery snow dotted the plane and seats. Flight personnel paraded a bubble machine up and down the aisle to shouts of “bubbles, bubbles, bubbles” from the enthusiastic children. Holiday songs played in the background and there were apple snacks and juice for all.

Before landing, the children were asked to close their window shades. When they opened, the kids were met by the sight of a waiting Santa and Mrs. Claus and a host of elves. An ice cream truck was on hand and the children received gifts.

Bryce Bosley, 6, was tickled to view Santa and all the North Pole had to propose.

“The North Pole is fun because there’s games, food, and all the activities are really fun,” he said.

United Capt. Bob Zimmermann, the holiday flight’s pilot, was struck by the joy and wonder of the youngsters.

“Throughout the year I’ll ponder of the fantasy flight,” he said. “When life seems to get tough or I desire to complain about something, I recall these kids and the joy and the adore and what this feels like, and it just keeps my life in perspective.”

United partnered with Make-A-aspiration Colorado, Girls Inc., Children’s Hospital Colorado and Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association to invite Denver-area kids ages 3 to 10 years on the flight.

For more than 30 years, United has staged its annual “fantasy flights” to fictional North Poles at airports around the globe to bring holiday cheer to children and their families.

This year they took place in 13 cities, starting Dec. 5 in Honolulu and then in Washington, Houston, Los Angeles, London, Chicago, San Francisco, Tokyo, Cleveland and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and on the island of Guam. Newark, recent Jersey, also had a flight Saturday.

Jonna McGrath, United’s vice president for operations at its Denver hub, has participated in 29 flights and said it is one of her favorite days of the year.

“It gives them a day where they are away from some of the challenges they face in their day-to-day life,” said McGrath, who was dressed as an elf. “Bringing a little magic and some gifts to their holiday period is something they’ll never overlook.”

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Bohrer reported from Juneau, Alaska.