Airline Breaks Two World Records for Charity
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Oli Scarff/Getty Images(LONDON) — British Airways set two Guinness World Record titles Sunday: the “Highest Harlem Shake” and “Highest Concert” in the sky, both happening at 43,000 feet.
The stunts were part of the airline’s “Flying Start” charity partnership with Comic Relief in celebration of “Red Nose Day,” a UK-wide fundraising event.
Some 128 passengers who won tickets were treated to performances from Bananarama and Go West on the ground, and 1980s pop stars Tony Hadley and Kim Wilde in the air. Passengers also danced their way into the Guinness World Record books by performing the latest Internet craze – the Harlem Shake.
On board the flight, the captain announced when the aircraft reached the correct altitude for the performances to begin. In order to break the previous Guinness World Record held by James Blunt at 42,080 feet, the artists had to perform a 15-minute set at higher altitude, accompanied by musical instruments. The event officially lasted 22 minutes and 36 seconds at 43,000 feet.
Wilde sang “You came, You Keep me Hangin’ On” and “Kids in America,” while Tony Hadley sang an acoustic version of “True, Gold” and a cover of Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.”
In keeping with the 80′s theme, canapés inspired by British Airways 1988 menus were served in the lounge, and cabin crew wore original 80′s Roland Klein uniforms.
The airline set its first world record in 2011 for Highest Standup Comedy Gig. This is the 25th year of Red Nose Day and in that time the airline’s raised £4.5 million (almost $7 million) for Flying Start.
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