Mumbai, Nov.14 (ANI): Providing a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to underprivileged children of flying on board an aircraft, Jet Airways, operated a special 'flight of fantasy' on Sunday from here.
Jet Airways collaborated with non-governmental child welfare organisations to make this Children's Day a special one for these tiny tots.
For the children, the exuberance began much prior to boarding the aircraft. A gala party, complete with catchy music and delicious snacks was first organised to brace them for the surprises ahead, and the enthusiastic children lapped it up instantly.
Then, the group, of 80-odd children, was given the chance of their lives-to actually travel above the clouds, in the blue skies, onboard a Jet aircraft.
Flying at a staggering height of 38,000 feet, the aircraft plied from western Mumbai to Bhavnagar, a town in Gujarat and back during the course of the programme.
Reflecting on the objective behind 'the flight of fantasy,' a senior Jet Airways executive told mediapersons onboard the aircraft that the idea was to give an unforgettable time to underprivileged children.
"The concept of flight of fantasy is we take the underprivileged children to a flight, to an actual flight onboard an aircraft. Today, we are flying in a 737 going up to Bhavnagar and returning back to Mumbai, climbing up to 38000 feet and giving the kids a good time. Today, there are 80 children onboard this flight, all from various organisations," said Majid Valeliya, a Jet Airways executive.
As they looked down at tiny homes, streets, cars, trees, mesmerising landscapes and cotton-like clouds through the windows of the aircraft, many children said it was the dream journey of their lives.
"It is feeling very nice to be onboard this aircraft. I am here with my school friends and teachers. Tomorrow is children's day, so we are celebrating," said Maiboob Sayyed, one of the children onboard the special aircraft.
Besides the children, even their accompanying teachers seemed positively overwhelmed by the experience.
"This is a very lovely experience. These children have never thought they would get an opportunity to travel on an aircraft. This is a very nice chance provided to them by the Jet Airways. They also enjoyed a lot in the party held earlier. So, it has been a very memorable experience for them," said Sakiya, a teacher onboard the aircraft.
The Boeing 737-700 flight 9W-8115 was part of Jet Airways' annual community service.
Such projects are a beacon of light in a country whose economy is booming but where some 35 million of the one billion population are orphans and where around 300 million people are living on less than a dollar a day-of whom 140 million are children. (ANI)
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