- When British-Australian songwriter Emmi shared her beautiful Christmas record, First Plane Home, with British Airways – the airline was inspired to help
- Emmi is one of many British Airways’ customers who will be far from loved ones over the holiday season as a result of the pandemic, and this song is dedicated to every one of them
- British Airways has promised to reunite New York-based Emmi with family and friends on the first plane home when she is able to travel again
- First Plane Home, the music video, is available to watch here
7 December 2020 - When British-Australian songwriter Emmi wrote to British Airways with her moving Christmas record, First Plane Home, the airline felt compelled to share her music and message with its followers.
The beautiful song is inspired by Emmi’s own experience. As a songwriter currently based in New York, she is unable to travel and see her loved ones in the UK or Australia this Christmas.
Emmi, a British Airways frequent flyer, emailed the airline with a copy of her song after its release at the end of November. She said: “I wrote this song as a letter to my family when I knew the current travel restrictions would prevent me returning to the US if I came home for Christmas. My heart broke at the realisation. I haven’t seen them for a year. But I know I'm not the only one separated from loved ones for issues which relate to the pandemic this year, so really this is a song for all of us. It’s a reflection on the year we've shared and a celebration of being alive and loved.”
Emmi’s song touched the hearts of everyone at British Airways. So much so that the airline has promised to reunite Emmi with her loved ones when she is able to travel freely again between the UK and the US. The special gesture forms part of their new campaign celebrating the gift that travel represents.
British Airways’ Director of Brand and Customer Experience, Carolina Martinoli, said: “Although British Airways has started flying to more destinations across the globe, we know many of our customers, like Emmi, will be separated from loved ones this holiday season as a result of the global pandemic. This song serves as a beautifully poignant reminder of how special travel is. When the time is right, British Airways is here for you – and we can’t wait to get you on that important plane home.”
Emmi added: “I know this is a feeling that will resonate with so many people around the globe during this different holiday season. But I hope it also spreads a unifying message of hope as we look forward to the new year. And when I do finally step onto that first flight home with British Airways, I know it’ll be a very special moment indeed. They couldn’t have given me or my family a gift more precious."
British Airways is giving Emmi the gift of travel this Christmas as part of its new campaign about travel and re-connecting with loved ones being the seasonal gift its customers are most wishing for.
The First Plane Home music video is available to watch here and you can listen to the song here.
#FirstPlaneHome #GiftOfTravel
Follow Emmi at: @emmi (Instagram), @emmimusic (Facebook) @emmimusic (Twitter)
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
- British Airways continues to fly regularly between the US and the UK, but restrictions remain in place for some non-US citizens returning to the US.
- Emmi is a British-Australian singer/songwriter. She was born in Devon, England and lived in Perth, Australia when she was growing up.
- As a teenager, she returned to London to sign with a film agent and further her acting career. Instead, London became the place where she found her voice and started writing songs.
- Two years ago, she moved from London to New York and signed to Sony ATV as a songwriter.
- She has been a songwriter for others for many years, but only recently started releasing music as an artist in her own right, independently.
- Emmi’s music reached the ears of Taylor Swift who tweeted about her second record.
- You might have heard Emmi’s voice in Harry Potter prequel Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, where she played a (CGI) goblin character, singing a song written by JK Rowling herself. (Blind Pig)
- BBC Radio 1's Greg James was an early fan of Emmi’s very first song. BBC Radio 1 and BBC Introducing have been loyal champions since.
- In 2021, Emmi plans to launch her debut album project ‘Players’ (a Shakespeare inspired pop album, and a three year labour of love).
