On Sunday, December 4th, Austrian Airlines carried the Light of Peace from Vienna International Airport (VIE) to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The flight crew of Austrian Airlines flight OS87 aboard a Boeing 767 registered OE-LAE carried the Light of Peace as a part of a long-standing Christmas tradition.

Christmas tradition

The flight crew aboard flight OS87 had the unique opportunity to participate in a decades-long multicultural tradition that marks the celebration of the Christmas holiday at the airline. The tradition is that the International Peace Light, which is a lit flame, is carried and distributed across the world, bringing with it messages of peace and joy. The tradition was first started in 1986 by the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF).

The annual tradition begins when a child is chosen to light and carry the flame. The child lights the flame in the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the exact location where it is believed Jesus of Nazareth was born. The child, along with the flame, is carried on an Austrian Airlines flight to Vienna. Once in Vienna, the flame is distributed to other lamps carried by delegations from across the world at a Service of Dedication. These delegations carry the flames to their home countries with messages of peace.

While the tradition may sound straightforward and simplistic, it is, in fact, a complicated process that requires the participation of various parties. The Grotto of the Nativity is an underground space within the Church of the Nativity built around the believed birth site of Jesus Christ. Political disputes have made transporting the flame difficult as Palestine has no airports, requiring a border crossing into Israel. Palestinians are prohibited from using Israeli airports without special permission. For this reason, most travel to neighboring Jordan for air travel; however, this takes additional time and requires another border crossing.

As transporting the flame is a time-sensitive endeavor, the involved parties travel through Israel's Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), despite the preliminary approval requirements. From this point, the flame is carried aboard an Austrian Airlines flight to Vienna, where the peace-promoting ceremony is held.

Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today.

Recent ceremony

The recent flight from VIE to JFK carrying the Light of Peace was a part of the tradition of distributing the flame across the globe. The flight occurred a couple of weeks after the flame was transported from Palestine to Vienna. On November 16th, the lit flame was flown aboard Austrian Airlines flight OS858 on an Airbus A321 registered OF-LBD. The flame safely arrived in Vienna in time for the ceremony where it was distributed. Following the ceremony, the flame was handed off to the Austrian Airlines flight crew of flight OS87 and carried across the Atlantic Ocean.

The Light of Peace and the messages carried with it will be distributed and shared across the US. The tradition of carrying the Light of Peace is a source of pride and a sign of accomplishment for the airline. Aside from this, the event is also a means to raise funds for children with special needs.

What do you think of this transoceanic Christmas flight? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: FlightRadar24

• 

  Austrian Airlines

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  OS/AUA

  Airline Type:

  Full Service Carrier

  Hub(s):

  Vienna International Airport

  Year Founded:

  1957

  Alliance:

  Star Alliance

  Airline Group:

  Lufthansa Group

  CEO:

  Annette Mann

  Country:

  Austria

  Region:

  Europe

  Loyalty Program:

  Miles & More

• 

  New York JFK Airport

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  JFK/KJFK

  Country:

  United States

  CEO:

  Rick Cotton (Executive Director of Port Authority of NY and NJ)

  Passenger Count :

  16,630,642 (2020)

  Runways :

  4L/22R - 3,682m (12,079 ft) | 4R/22L - 2,560m (8,400 ft) | 13L/31R - 3,048m (10,000 ft) | 13R/31L - 4,423m (14,511 ft)

  Terminals:

  Terminal 1 | Terminal 2 | Terminal 4 | Terminal 5 | Terminal 7 | Terminal 8