Santa was stopped at Gatwick airport by airport security as staff inspected his sack of presents before he was allowed to make his maiden flight on board
an easyJet Airbus A320.
Santa, a pilot who has clocked up hundreds of thousands of air miles and has been flying for over 1,700 years, is taking off earlier than scheduled this year to meet 20,000 passengers in advance of Christmas Day.
easyJet is launching more than 100 flights across Europe over the festive period, which will see lucky children get a surprise from Father Christmas.