It wasn’t “Elf,” but it seemed as if one United Airlines plane was flying more on Christmas spirit than it was on jet fuel Saturday afternoon.

Continuing an over-30-year annual holiday tradition, the airline hosted over 100 children on its Fantasy Flight to the “North Pole,” and a meeting with Santa Claus, from Denver International Airport Saturday.

Denver, which hosted kids from Girls Inc., Make-A-Wish Colorado, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, was one of a dozen cities across the country that hosted such an event this year.

Pilot Keith McKeon, taking part for the first time, had always wanted to be a part of the event, and it carried a bit of extra meaning for him.

“I’m surprising my nephew. He’s part of the Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome group we’re going to have onboard,” McKeon said. “He’s never been on a flight before, so for me to fly on this flight with him, it’ll be special.”

As the Boeing 777 — a two-aisle aircraft brought in specifically for the event as there are none based at DIA, pilots said — taxied down the runway, its passengers, both children and adults, sang a litany of carols, including “Jingle Bells,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and, yes, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”

Aiding in the enthusiasm were the nearly 200 United Airlines employees, all costumed for the occasion as Disney characters, elves and reindeer. They sang along while taking photos, exchanging high-fives and shooting bubble guns. The plane had been decorated to the tens, with garland and string lights hanging from the overhead baggage bins and cotton “snow” lining the top of each seat.

Then, the flight aptly dubbed with the local call sign “Santa One,” fired its engines, released the brake, and lifted off to the North Pole amidst a chorus of cheers and shrieks.

“It’s so cool!” exclaimed a girl named Finnley immediately after takeoff.

Finnley was one of around two-dozen children who were at the event with Girls Inc., a national girls’ leadership organization. Before the flight, she, along with other members of her cohort, sat on the ground in United’s lobby; all of them were talking about what they were going to ask Santa for Christmas, from Barbie accessories to labubus.

“I’m excited to go on the flight and see Santa with my friends,” said another girl named Nalani.

From entry to exit, the entire event was decorated as if Buddy the Elf himself had played a role. The airport’s Gate 38 drew the attention of all travelers walking past, standing out with inflatable candy canes and gingerbread houses splashing color against amidst the otherwise normal-looking terminal and Christmastime hits blaring over the loudspeaker.

Upon arriving in the “North Pole” (one of United’s maintenance hangers on the north side of the airport terminal), the flight’s passengers were treated to dozens of inflatable decorations, as well as meet-and-greets with Santa, Mrs. Claus and, if they desired, The Grinch.

For pilots Danielle and Mark Lindelsee, a married couple with three children who took part in the event for the first time, the event lived up to their anticipation.

“It was a very emotional day,” Mark Lindelsee said after the flight. “It wasn’t just the kids I saw touched by the experience, but the parents too, and in that we can relate. This was really special.”