CHRISTMAS FAIRIES DELIVER SURPRISE WISHES TO PASSENGERS

Through social media, passengers who were travelling, or who knew someone who was, were asked to submit nominations for their loved-ones to receive a surprise wish on their journey. From the many nominations received, ten lucky wish winners were chosen to have a handpicked gift or experience delivered to them on arrival at the airport.

Amongst the winners was Alexander (Sandy) McAllister from Glasgow, who cared for his wife Elaine last Christmas when she nearly lost her eyesight.

Elaine said, “He arranged an entire Christmas and took amazing care of me, never leaving my side, getting up during the night to put my antibiotic eye drops in, and coming to every appointment with me just to hold my hand”.

The O’Neil family from Inverkeithing also had a magical surprise when they arrived home from EuroDisney. Kirsty O’Neil nominated her husband Kevin who is battling cancer, and their three year old son Nathan. Her special message to Kevin was “We're in this together” and to little Nathan “Keep smiling and have a fantastic Christmas”.

The Christmas Fairies cleverly tracked down each wish winner using their flight number and a photograph sent from the person who nominated them. They waited in International Arrivals holding a personalised sign for arriving passengers, and fluttered into the departure gate area for those who were flying out.

The wishes included afternoon tea at the Balmoral, Chanel perfume, gift vouchers for Martin Wishart's restaurant The Honours, a Casio watch, an instant camera and personalised chocolates.

The whole activity, including the surprise reactions, was filmed by production company 29 Studios and will be made into a short video which will be published on the Edinburgh Airport Facebook and Twitter pages later this week. The Christmas Fairies will return to the airport on the 23rd December to surprise staff who have been nominated for a Christmas wish and there will be some further small on-the-spot surprises for passengers too.