DFW International Airport Unveils Annual “SantaTracker” Web Site; Airport Prepares To Welcome Santa Claus

DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, (December 18, 2006) – DFW International Airport’s SantaTracker web site (www.dfwairport.com/santatracker) will once again track the worldwide, whirlwind tour of Santa Claus as he makes his way to North Texas. The updated site has great information for children of all ages including the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) tips for travel, a parking promotion, interactive games, e-cards and a virtual reality of Santa landing on DFW's airfield. The site goes live today. 

Utilizing the best navigational technology available, DFW is able to track Santa, Rudolph and the other reindeer as they make their way around the world and to the good children of North Texas. On Christmas Eve, DFW will also continue its holiday tradition of providing families an opportunity to check on Santa’s trip to North Texas by phone at (972) 586-NOEL beginning on December 23. 

“SantaTracker is a lot of fun for everyone during this holiday week and it received more than 16,500 hits on Christmas Eve last year,” said Ken Capps, vice president of public affairs for DFW. “When Santa arrives this year, he will once again be greeted at DFW’s General Aviation with a warm potbelly stove, a comfortable rocking chair, and oats, carrots and water for the reindeer. Our employees really have a lot of fun getting the place ready for the big landing." 

The SantaTracker site is designed by the Airport's talented multimedia team and features unique music and animation to keep holiday web surfers coming back day after day. The site also offers visitors the opportunity to share in the Airport's beautiful world-class art with e-cards to family and friends around the world. 

The site also links directly to the TSA's 3-1-1 program with advice on clearing airport security quickly. Some of the tips include: 

• Do not wrap gifts

• Do not pack fragile or valuable items in checked baggage

• Do not over-pack bags

• Put undeveloped film in carry-on baggage

• Get to the airport early

• You are required to remove footwear for X-ray screening

• Double check the contents of your pockets, bags and carry-on luggage to ensure no prohibited items were inadvertently packed

SantaTracker will debut a third unique game, “Santa’s Chimney Drop” which joins “Snowball Challenge” and “Wishlist Word Find” to entertain yuletide web surfers. “Santa’s Chimney Drop” is an arcade-style game where Santa's sleigh flies over rooftops and players try to drop gifts into the chimneys of homes below. In addition, “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. 

Other links listed on the web site include an opportunity to send a child an email from Santa Claus, the terrific “NORAD Tracks Santa” site, and several sites that track the history of Christmas around the world. 

“This year when Santa arrives, he will be guided in by the FAA on runway 18 left / 36 right enabling him to pull up to General Aviation quickly for his refueling,” says Capps. “He will be well cared for during his blink-of-an-eye stop.” 

DFW, has brought the SantaTracker web site and the Christmas Eve phone updates to North Texas children since December 2001. The site can be accessed through the front page of (www.dfwairport.com) by clicking on the Santa image. The Airport will offer regular updates on the movements of Santa and his sleigh on the phone line beginning at 3:30 p.m. on December 23 through Christmas Eve. The updates will continue through the evening of December 24 until midnight, when all good children should be fast asleep for Santa’s arrival. 

Today’s web site debut kicks off a busy week of holiday travel. DFW's nationally recognized Holiday Helpers will also be out in force on Thursday, December 21 to spread holiday cheer on one of the busiest travel days of the season. The employee volunteers will be deployed throughout the Airport's five terminals with goodies for children and families. Dunkin’ Donuts and Pepsi will also be providing free samples and T-Mobile will be distributing free access cards to its Wi-Fi system to keep everyone in good holiday spirits.