By Rafiq Vayani
FORT WORTH, Texas: American Airlines, Make-A-Wish and Disney will grant the wishes of children battling critical illnesses in celebration of World Wish Month for the third annual Wish Flight. On April 9, 24 wish families from Arizona will board the Wish Flight and fly from Phoenix to Orlando, Florida, to fulfill their wishes to go to Walt Disney World Resort®.
Wish Flight will be full of unforgettable experiences, beginning with a preflight celebration at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), complete with a breakfast bar and a special send-off by WishMakers — everyday people who make wishes possible. The party will continue with a special inflight experience provided by American, giving wish kids and their families a trip that will be sure to transform their lives.
The flight will feature a special inflight menu, including an ice cream sundae bar and activity kits for the kids. The chartered Wish Flight will land at Orlando International Airport (MCO), and families will be welcomed by a special arrival including WishMakers cheering them on.
“At American Airlines, we are passionate about connecting people and creating unforgettable memories driven by our purpose of caring for people on life’s journey. We hope these children and their families feel the care and excitement of our team as they embark on this meaningful experience,” said Caroline Clayton, Senior Vice President of Communications and Chief Marketing Officer at American. “As a proud partner of Make-A-Wish for more than 35 years, we’re grateful to help grant wishes, bring joy to these wish families and continue giving back to the communities we serve.”
All of the children’s wishes are to visit Walt Disney World Resort®, and together with Make-A-Wish, Disney has granted more than 165,000 life-changing wishes like these since 1980. The families will also enjoy a welcome reception at Give Kids The World Village, a whimsical nonprofit resort, where they will stay for six days and five nights while experiencing the magic of Disney.
“Supporters like Disney and American Airlines recognize the profound impact that a wish can have on children fighting critical illnesses and continue to strengthen their support as WishMakers to make more wishes possible,” said Leslie Motter, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish America. “For the third year in a row, Wish Flight is uniting the community during World Wish Month, offering families the chance to create life-changing experiences from the moment they arrive at the airport, bringing joy and hope during challenging times.”
Make-A-Wish needs almost three billion airline miles to fulfill travel wishes for children battling critical illnesses each year, making it a critical resource to grant the wish of every eligible child waiting. As a long-standing airline partner of Make-A-Wish, American generously donated the chartered aircraft and continues to donate millions of AAdvantage® miles yearly to make wish travel possible.
In honor of World Wish Month in April, American will direct all AAdvantage® miles donated to Miles for Global Health and Well-Being to Make-A-Wish, up to 50 million miles.
