Emirates' Airbus A380 Becomes 'Sleigh380' for Christmas: Was the Video AI?

The Dubai-based major airline, Emirates, has once again captured global attention with its annual holiday campaign.

The carrier shared a festive video on social media featuring its flagship Airbus A380 aircraft. This superjumbo jet was transformed into the “Emirates A380 Sleigh380” for the season.

The festive commercial aviation news reel showed the massive aircraft with a glowing red nose and reindeer antlers. A giant sleigh packed with gifts trailed behind the jet, secured by an oversized belt.

Emirates joked in the caption that “Santa is going long-haul this year.” The smooth, slightly unreal quality of the footage quickly led to speculation.

The 'Sleigh380' Visuals

Many viewers immediately questioned if the Airbus A380 Christmas video was created using new artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The realism of the imagery sparked a debate among followers.

Emirates quickly addressed the speculation in the comments section. The airline confirmed the visuals were handcrafted, not AI-generated. The carrier worked with its longtime creative partner, 100 Pixels, to produce the clip.

Digital artist Mostafa Eldiasty, known as 100 Pixels, created the sophisticated computer-generated imagery (CGI). This effort continues a tradition of viral holiday marketing campaigns for the airline.

Marketing and Industry Context

This lighthearted video successfully stopped people mid-scroll, adding Christmas cheer to social media feeds. The campaign highlights the Emirates holiday marketing campaign strategy.

It showcases the airline's iconic aircraft, the Airbus A380, which is central to its brand. Emirates is the world's largest operator of the A380.

As the largest long haul airline and the largest airline in the Middle East, Emirates operates a vast network. The carrier flies more than 3,600 flights per week from its hub at Dubai International Airport Terminal 3.

Creative marketing is a key component of maintaining brand visibility in the competitive global aviation sector. Viral content like the A380 dressed up as sleigh helps keep the airline top-of-mind for passengers. This is especially true during the busy Christmas travel period. For more commercial aviation news and updates, visit flying.flights.

• The 'Sleigh380' video is part of the Emirates holiday marketing campaign for Christmas 2025.
• The airline confirmed the Airbus A380 Christmas video was handcrafted CGI by 100 Pixels, not AI.
• Emirates is the world's largest long haul airline, operating from Dubai International Airport Terminal 3.