Austrian Airlines’ flight OS858 carrying the ORF peace light from Bethlehem landed at Vienna Schwechat Airport on the evening of Wednesday, November 16, 2022. The symbol of Christmas Peace can now shine brightly in Austrian living rooms on Christmas Eve.
On Thursday (November 17, 2022), Austrian Airlines announced the arrival of the ORF Peace Light aboard flight OS858, which touched down at Vienna Schwechat Airport on Wednesday evening, November 16, 2022. This year marks the 36th time Austrian Airlines has transported the symbol of Christmas Peace approximately 2,600 kilometers from Bethlehem to Austria. Now, once again, the light can shine brightly in Austrian living rooms and throghout Europe and beyond on Christmas Eve. Onboard the special flight was this year’s Peace Light Child Sarah from Altenburg near Linz, with the 12 year old schoolgirl lighting the flame in the Grotto of the Nativity of Jesus in Bethlehem, prior to accompanying the light aboard the flight to Vienna.
In Thursday’s announcement, Austrian Airlines’ CCO, Michael, Trestl, said,
“The ORF Peace Light is a piece of Austrian Christmas history. We are all the more pleased that Austrian Airlines has been part of this long-standing tradition from the very beginning. As a red-white-red airline, we are proud to bring the light of the Christmas peace home every year and then fly it into the wide world under the highest security precautions.”
Austrian Airlines Celebrates the 36th Annual Transport of the ORF Peace Light From Bethlehem to Vienna - Courtesy Austrian Airlines
Each year in Advent, The ORF Peace Light is transported to Austria by Austrian Airlines under special safety conditions. The small flame from Bethlehem then shines throughout Europe on Christmas Eve, and now also in the U.S. and parts of South America as a symbol of Christmas Peace. The tradition was started in 1986 on the initiative of the ORF regional studio in Upper Austria. In the beginning of December 2022, the light will also be flown to New York by the Austrian Airlines crew on flight OS87.
Source: Austrian Airlines