Children with Life-Shortening Conditions Enjoy Special Flight Over Scotland

Fifteen children with life-shortening conditions, along with their families, were treated to a magical sightseeing flight over Scotland on Saturday, thanks to Loganair and the charity Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS). The families were joined by Disney characters Elsa and Anna, and Edinburgh Airport’s mascot, EDI the Pilot, making the experience even more memorable.

A Memorable Flight

The flight, departing from Edinburgh Airport, took the children up the east coast of Scotland, offering them a unique aerial view of their homeland. It marked the third annual flight organized by Loganair for CHAS, as part of a long-standing partnership that began in 2021.

The Mahmood family was among those enjoying the experience, with siblings Ruhee, Rayan, and Khadijah flying for the first time. “They’ve been looking forward to this for weeks,” said their father, Viqar Mahmood. “The highlight was when Ruhee flew with Batman, and his sisters got to meet their favorite princesses from Frozen.”

Loganair partnered with Wish Upon a Star Kingdom to bring Disney’s characters on board. In addition to the flight, the children enjoyed a VIP experience in British Airways’ lounge, where they met the princesses, took part in sing-alongs, and enjoyed storytelling sessions.

Luke Farajallah, CEO of Loganair, expressed his pride in supporting CHAS:

“It is our upmost pleasure to provide a unique and captivating experience for the children and young people of CHAS – it means a huge amount to the families that take part in the trip. The CHAS partnership is something that we value hugely, and we are thrilled to play a part in the lives of these incredibly special young people. Every year we are committed to bringing joy and happiness to young people and while the sightseeing flight around Scotland is the icing on the cake, we were pleased to be able to partner with Wish Upon a Star Kingdom this year to make the experience as magical as possible.”

An Ongoing Partnership

The airline has been actively supporting CHAS through monetary donations and free flights for the charity’s nurses who provide home-based care to families in remote areas. The annual flights, which have previously departed from Glasgow and Aberdeen Airports, are one of the many ways Loganair has engaged with CHAS over the years. Staff members also volunteer at Robin House, one of CHAS’ hospices, contributing to the garden and decorating for Christmas.

Nikki Corrigan, CHAS Service Manager for Outreach, praised the airline’s ongoing support. “Our partnership with Loganair has been invaluable, especially in reaching families in remote areas. Days like this create joyful memories that will last a lifetime.”

Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) is on a mission to reach every family in Scotland that needs its care, providing hospice services nation-wide to babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions. The charity, which is celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022, offers palliative, respite and end-of-life care from Rachel House in Kinross, Robin House in Balloch and through CHAS at Home. Through its Diana Children’s Nurses and specialist children’s consultants working in hospitals across the country, CHAS staff work alongside NHS colleagues to support families and clinical teams. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, CHAS set up Scotland’s first ever virtual hospice, offering families extensive assistance, by video and phone. CHAS family support teams also offer an expanding range of interactive activities, art clubs, storytelling and conference calls to children and parents.

Loganair also thanked its partners, including Edinburgh Airport, Menzies Aviation, and OCS, for helping make the day a success.