American Airlines and Make-A-Wish host Wish Flight to bring 24 children battling critical illnesses to Walt Disney World Resort

Published: 2025-04-04 11:20:13 ET AAL

FORT WORTH, Texas - American Airlines, Make-A-Wish and Disney will grant the wishes of children battling critical illnesses in celebration of World Wish Month for the third annual Wish Flight. On April 9, 24 wish families from Arizona will board the Wish Flight and fly from Phoenix to Orlando, Florida, to fulfill their wishes to go to Walt Disney World Resort.

Wish Flight will be full of unforgettable experiences, beginning with a preflight celebration at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), complete with a breakfast bar and a special send-off by WishMakers - everyday people who make wishes possible. The party will continue with a special inflight experience provided by American, giving wish kids and their families a trip that will be sure to transform their lives.

The flight will feature a special inflight menu, including an ice cream sundae bar and activity kits for the kids. The chartered Wish Flight will land at Orlando International Airport (MCO), and families will be welcomed by a special arrival including WishMakers cheering them on.

'At American Airlines, we are passionate about connecting people and creating unforgettable memories driven by our purpose of caring for people on life's journey. We hope these children and their families feel the care and excitement of our team as they embark on this meaningful experience,' said Caroline Clayton, Senior Vice President of Communications and Chief Marketing Officer at American. 'As a proud partner of Make-A-Wish for more than 35 years, we're grateful to help grant wishes, bring joy to these wish families and continue giving back to the communities we serve.'

All of the children's wishes are to visit Walt Disney World Resort, and together with Make-A-Wish, Disney has granted more than 165,000 life-changing wishes like these since 1980. The families will also enjoy a welcome reception at Give Kids The World Village, a whimsical nonprofit resort, where they will stay for six days and five nights while experiencing the magic of Disney.

'Supporters like Disney and American Airlines recognize the profound impact that a wish can have on children fighting critical illnesses and continue to strengthen their support as WishMakers to make more wishes possible,' said Leslie Motter, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish America. 'For the third year in a row, Wish Flight is uniting the community during World Wish Month, offering families the chance to create life-changing experiences from the moment they arrive at the airport, bringing joy and hope during challenging times.'

Make-A-Wish needs almost three billion airline miles to fulfill travel wishes for children battling critical illnesses each year, making it a critical resource to grant the wish of every eligible child waiting. As a long-standing airline partner of Make-A-Wish, American generously donated the chartered aircraft and continues to donate millions of AAdvantage miles yearly to make wish travel possible.

In honor of World Wish Month in April, American will direct all AAdvantage miles donated to Miles for Global Health and Well-Being to Make-A-Wish, up to 50 million miles.

Wishes wouldn't be possible without the dedication and generosity of WishMakers. Everyone has the power to become a WishMaker, from individual donors to corporate partners. In the U.S. alone, every 20 minutes, on average, a child is diagnosed with a critical illness, and a wish can help lead to better health outcomes. But more WishMakers are needed for Make-A-Wish to achieve its goal of bringing the life-changing impact of a wish to every eligible child.

During World Wish Month in April, Make-A-Wish chapters and affiliates worldwide are inviting communities to join the movement and become WishMakers between now and the end of the month. The Wish Flight is a perfect example of the possible impact when communities unite to make wishes happen.

Make-A-Wish and American invite anyone who would like to make a difference in the lives of wish kids to learn how to make wishes come true and become a WishMaker at wishmaker.org.

About American Airlines Group

As a leading global airline, American Airlines offers thousands of flights per day to more than 350 destinations in more than 60 countries. The airline is a founding member of the oneworld alliance, whose members serve more than 900 destinations around the globe. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL. Learn more about what's happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and connect with American @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines. To Care for People on Life's Journey.

About Make-A-Wish

Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Founded in Phoenix, Arizona, Make-A-Wish is the #1 most trusted nonprofit operating locally in all 50 states throughout the U.S. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 20,000 volunteers across the country, Make-A-Wish delivers hope and joy to children and their families when they need it most. Make-A-Wish aims to bring the power of wishing to every child with a critical illness because wish experiences can help improve emotional and physical health. Since 1980, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 615,000 wishes worldwide; more than 390,000 wishes in the U.S. and its territories alone. For more information about Make-A-Wish America, visit wish.org.

About The Walt Disney Company

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international entertainment and media enterprise that includes three business segments: Entertainment, Sports, and Experiences. Disney is a Dow 30 company and had annual revenue of $91.4 billion in its Fiscal Year 2024.

For more than 100 years, Disney has been committed to bringing happiness to kids and families around the world. As the world's largest wish granter for Make-A-Wish, Disney has helped grant more than 165,000 life-changing wishes since the first official wish was granted more than 45 years ago at Disneyland Resort. In fact, A Disney wish is granted every hour of every day, on average - and we are honored that wish kids choose Disney for their most heartfelt wish. Disney wishes range from theme park visits and movie premieres, to character meet-and-greets and sports events. Learn more about Disney's commitment to delivering happiness and joy when it's needed most at joy.disney.com.

About Give Kids The World

One of less than 1% of all U.S. charities to receive Charity Navigator's highest rating 17 years in a row, Give Kids The World Village is an 89-acre, whimsical nonprofit resort in Central Florida that provides children with critical illnesses and their families from around the world with magical week-long wish vacations. From life's simple pleasures to the stuff that dreams are made of, every wish family is treated to an all-inclusive experience including private villa accommodations; all meals and snacks; nightly entertainment; daily gifts; and non-stop fun at the Village, a storybook destination featuring an array of accessible rides and attractions. Since 1986, nearly 200,000 wish families from all 50 states and 77 countries have been welcomed to the Village to laugh together, play together, and create priceless memories away from hospital stays and medical treatments. Give Kids The World's mission to create the happiness that inspires hope for wish families is made possible by the generosity of caring corporate partners, individual donors and caring volunteers. For more information, visit www.gktw.org.