Unique airport festive experience near Cirencester opens this weekend

The Flight Before Christmas at Cotswold Airport begins boarding once again on Saturday, November 23.

The experience, which allows visitors to meet Father Christmas aboard a grounded Boeing 747 near Kemble, said that it is back ‘bigger and better than ever’ this year.

The Flight Before Christmas - which involves the converted aircraft Negus 747 - has been fully revamped, including new characters, activities and completely new sections that attendees can immerse themselves in.

The adventure begins at the Elf Control Check In, where guests receive a boarding pass and customised ‘North Pole passport’.

After passing through the ‘naughty or nice’ security check-in scanner, a wacky ‘elf and safety’ briefing is hosted by Peppermint, the mischievous head elf, and his cabin crew.

Guests can witness elves wrapping last-minute presents in the parcel bay, mix magical fairy dust and create the perfect reindeer food to help ensure that the reindeer can deliver presents on time.

They also get the opportunity to meet Father Christmas for a story-time session.

Online booking for the experience indicates that it is open on selected dates until Tuesday, December 24.

Cotswold Airport, formally RAF Kemble, was bought by Ronan Harvey in 2001.

With his daughter Suzannah at the helm, today, it is a private airfield seeing more than 36,00 movements annually, as well as being home to different aviation-related businesses.

General admission tickets for The Flight Before Christmas start at £39 plus £2.97 in fees.

Included in children’s tickets are treats like a video invitation from Father Christmas, a boarding pass and passport in a The Flight Before Christmas branded bag, an airport style check-in, a gingerbread biscuit-decorating activity and a present from Father Christmas.

Included in tickets for adults are a mince pie, mulled wine and a gift from Santa.

For more information and tickets, visit theflightbeforechristmas.com