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Santa Takes to the Maps as NORAD, Google and Flightradar24 Launch Live Trackers

NORAD’s tradition born from a 1955 wrong-number call underpins a playful, app-driven way for families to follow Santa’s journey in real time.

Overview

  • Flightradar24 is showing a sleigh tagged SANTA1/HOHOHO after a North Pole departure, with reports placing it over Scandinavia en route to Rovaniemi.
  • The tracker lists tongue‑in‑cheek technical details including an ICAO type code “SLEI,” nine “engines” with a glowing nose, and registration HOHOHO.
  • Google’s Santa Tracker activates live routing on December 24 and features a Santa Village with mini games and learning activities.
  • NORAD continues its long‑running service with an earlier 10:00 start time, a multilingual website, and Android and iOS apps for following the route.
  • Viewers can search SANTA, HOHOHO, or R3DNO5E on Flightradar24, switch to a 3D map view when logged in, or watch a YouTube livestream.