DFW International Airport Launches “Santatracker” Web Site; Readies To Welcome Santa Claus In North Texas

The Stockings Were Hung By The Airfield With Care, In Hopes That St. Nicholas Soon Would Be There

DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, (December 15, 2005) – DFW International Airport debuts its popular SantaTracker website today at www.dfwairport.com/santatracker, allowing children of all ages to get into the holiday spirit the week before Christmas and to track Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. New to yuletide web surfers this year will be computer games, electronic greetings and fresh links to important Airport travel information and holiday sites.

Utilizing the latest in navigational technology, DFW is able to track Santa and allow the good children of North Texas to follow his travels around the world. And on Christmas Eve, DFW will also continue its tradition of providing families an opportunity to check on Santa’s trip to North Texas by phone at (972) 586-NOEL.

“SantaTracker is now in its fourth year and continues to grow with more than 14,000 hits on Christmas Eve alone last year,” said Ken Capps, vice president of public affairs for DFW. “This year the site will also feature ‘Sleigh-TV,’ a virtual reality of Santa Claus arriving at DFW with his sleigh filled with toys. And of course, this year Santa will get a great look at our new Skylink, International Terminal D and the Grand Hyatt as he refuels here.”

SantaTracker proudly offers two unique games designed and created by Airport staffers. “Snowball Challenge” is an arcade-style game where players dodge and throw snowballs at other children hiding in the woods. A word scramble game challenges players to find hidden words in a letter grid and changes with each new game.

The SantaTracker site also offers visitors the opportunity to send e-cards offering seasons greetings to family and friends around the world quickly and easily. The ecards will showcase the world class art program at DFW that debuted at International Terminal D this summer.

And of course SantaTracker has additional links to other popular Christmas websites such as "NORAD Tracks Santa,” which is now in its 50th year of closely monitoring the worldwide, whirlwind trip of Santa.

“And when Santa lands at DFW we will be ready for him,” says Capps. “We have a great employee crew that has built a really plush rest area for Santa and it has become a really fun tradition.”

On Christmas Eve, Santa will receive a red carpet welcome at DFW’s General Aviation ramp with a specially prepared Landing Pad. Santa will enjoy his favorite rocking chair and a pot-belly stove to relax by, complete with cookies and a cold glass of milk. The hardest working reindeer in the world will be quickly refueled with hay and oats before they continue their trek around the world.

DFW, in cooperation with Santa Claus, has been able to bring the SantaTracker website and the Christmas Eve phone updates to North Texas children since December 2001. The site can also be accessed through the front page of www.dfwairport.com and clicking on the Santa image. The Airport will also offer regular updates on the movements of Santa and his sleigh on the phone line beginning at noon on Dec. 23 through Christmas Eve. The updates will continue through the evening of Dec. 24 until midnight, when all good children should be fast asleep for Santa’s arrival.

Editors Note: The last words heard by DFW staffers last year as Santa Claus departed runway 36R/18L and flew out of sight were, ‘Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”