Hundreds of children, who have a serious illness or disability, arrived at Heathrow this morning for the departure of Dreamflight 2018 which whisked them to Orlando for a holiday of a lifetime on a chartered British Airways jumbo jet. Every year Dreamflight raises funds to enable the British Airways Boeing 747 to fly almost 200 children to Florida to enjoy a fun packed ten-day trip. On the trip, they spend time at attractions including Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and Universal Studios. Children at this year’s departure got to meet singer-songwriter Una Healy who mingled and took selfies with them before they boarded. British Airways supports the Dreamflight team each year to help give the departure a party atmosphere. An army of volunteers donned superhero outfits, including dressing up as Stormtroopers to wow the children, while the Air Cadet National Marching Band performed popular hangar-roof-raising songs.

British Airways cabin crew and pilots were also at Heathrow Airport as the children boarded the superjumbo through a magical castle. Since the first flight in 1987 more than 5,800 children have flown on Dreamflight. For many it’s the very first time they’ve travelled abroad and been away without their family. The young fliers are accompanied by the Dreamflight team, British Airways cabin crew, and a fully trained medical team, which includes doctors, nurses and physiotherapists who are on hand 24-hours a day throughout the trip. Amongst the adult volunteers will be those who went on the Dreamflight trip themselves as children. For more information on Dreamflight, please visit: www.dreamflight.org.