Buddy the Elf made a surprise appearance on the inaugural flight of a Tui plane, to spread festive cheer and give a ‘golden boarding pass’ to one lucky passenger.
Wallace Walkden, aged 18 months from Cheshire, was the youngest person on the flight from Manchester, so he won the prize of an annual holiday every year until the age of 18.
The prize was given to celebrate the first flight of the Boeing 737 MAX to Kittila in Finnish Lapland.
The aircraft is named after the airport, as Tui has introduced a scheme to name its new aircraft after its destinations.
Buddy the Elf also entertained the other passengers and encouraged them to sing along to ‘Santa Claus Is Coming to Town’.
Jill Nye, Tui Airways’ customer director, said: “Our honorary crew member, Buddy, certainly brought the Christmas experience to life – including an early gift from Santa. Hopefully the golden holiday ticket will allow the Walkden family to create memorable moments for years to come.”