Emirates Airlines has ushered in the 2025 holiday season with a spectacular digital creation, magically transforming its iconic Airbus A380 superjumbo into a festive flying reindeer named 'Sleigh380'. The airline released a captivating video that has quickly captured the imagination of travellers and social media users worldwide.
The Magical Transformation of the Sleigh380
In the enchanting Instagram Reel, the aircraft is seen sporting a glowing red nose, paying homage to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Huge brown antlers are fixed atop the nose section, with a decorative wreath placed where they meet the fuselage. The scene is set at Dubai International Airport, where the A380, its belly full of gifts for Santa's "nicest passengers", prepares for a magical journey.
The ground staff are portrayed as diligent dnata elves, seen loading presents onto a giant sleigh attached to the aircraft. The video culminates with the Sleigh380 powering down the runway and vanishing into the winter sky, perfectly blending aviation with Christmas folklore.
Behind the Scenes: A Handcrafted Digital Masterpiece
While many viewers speculated the video was generated by artificial intelligence (AI), Emirates confirmed this was not the case. The airline collaborated with renowned CGI artist Mostafa Eldiasty, also known as 100 Pixels, to create the visual spectacle. Every frame was meticulously crafted by hand, a testament to the detailed digital artistry involved.
This marks Eldiasty's continued partnership with Emirates, following previous viral hits. The artist even engaged with the audience in the comments, humorously requesting a Business Class seat on the sleigh and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.
The release comes during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Emirates anticipates nearly 2.3 million departures and around 2.5 million arrivals during the peak Christmas 2025 travel season.
Festive Cheer On the Ground and In the Air
The Sleigh380 video is Emirates' second Christmas-themed reel this season, following a fun promotional video featuring popular TV host Andi Peters that highlighted special festive meals. Throughout December, the airline is spreading holiday joy with several initiatives for passengers.
Onboard, travellers can indulge in specially curated Christmas menus that include classic dishes adapted for flights. The offerings range from roasted turkey with chestnut stuffing and truffle potato gratin to premium options like herb-crusted lamb shank. First Class guests are treated to a Santa-style strawberry and cream dessert. The experience is complemented by festive drinks, themed desserts, winter-style airport lounges, and limited-edition Christmas gifts.
Social Media Buzz and a Tradition of Festive Campaigns
The Sleigh380 reel sparked lively reactions online. While many were delighted, some users playfully raised "Elf and Safety" concerns, with others joking about the realism of the visuals. One user commented, "I wanted to laugh but then I remembered I'm flying Emirates soon," while another speculated, "Some will say this is AI."
Emirates has successfully built a beloved annual tradition with its Christmas campaigns. In 2024, the 'Captain Claus' reel, also created by Mostafa Eldiasty, showed an A380 wearing a Santa hat and being pulled by reindeer, garnering over 1.1 million views in 24 hours. The 2023 campaign, 'Hangar Elves', featured CGI elves preparing aircraft in an engineering hangar.
The 2025 Sleigh380 continues this legacy of high-quality, imaginative content, effectively blending brand promotion with seasonal magic and solidifying Emirates' presence in the digital festive space.
