lgbt
Sydney
Hundreds on 'pride flight' touch down in Sydney for Mardi Gras Parade
Sydney's world famous Mardi Gras parade and party is beginning on Saturday night, ahead of two weeks of festivities for the LGBTIQA+ community.Hundreds of travellers hopped on board a special 'pride flight' to Sydney.Their destination? The hallowed ground of Sydney's Oxford Street and the 2024 Mardi Gras parade.Virgin Australia and United Airlines' Pride Flight services flew to Sydney from San Francisco, Melbourne and Brisbane.Up to 500 people took Virgin up on the offer, flying on the specially chartered pride flights.A flight crew paraded through Brisbane Airport on a specially decorated cart.A pre-flight show in Brisbane got the party going before passengers took their seats boarding.The red carpet was rolled out for passengers, performers and flight attendants, who struck a pose before boarding the flight.Police officers at Melbourne Airport were among those keen to show their colours.In Sydney, parade preperations were finished off yesterday afternoon, with Lord Mayor Clover Moore in attendance.And a preview of some of tonight's elaborate costumes could be seen.