Europe in the Air
| Company type | Attraction / Amusement ride |
|---|---|
| Industry | Amusement park ride |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Defunct | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Williamsburg, Virginia , United States |
Area served | Busch Gardens Williamsburg |
| Products | Motion simulator ride |
| Owner | Busch Gardens Williamsburg |
Europe in the Air was a motion simulator ride located at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, a theme park situated in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. This attraction offered a simulated journey over Europe's famous landmarks, complementing the park's European-themed environment. Its design and production were similar to those of Disney's Soarin' Over California and Star Tours. The park advertised the visuals as being "eight times sharper than HD". To heighten realism, additional effects such as fans were incorporated into the experience. Europe in the Air took the place of the Corkscrew Hill ride starting with the 2010 season and was once sponsored by Aer Lingus.
History
The Corkscrew Hill ride was discontinued in 2009 to allow for the introduction of Europe in the Air, which was originally produced by the now-defunct Reflectone company. Europe in the Air ceased operations on June 30, 2013, for the rest of that season but resumed service in 2014.
On March 18, 2017, Busch Gardens revealed plans to replace Europe in the Air with a virtual reality attraction, making 2016 its final year of operation. Subsequently, all signage and mentions of the ride were removed from the park’s official website.
Queue
Guests begin their wait inside a castle-inspired building bearing the ride’s title, "Europe in the Air: A High-Flying Adventure." The queue meanders around ponds and through tunnels before entering a modern room showcasing maps of European nations and landmarks. Visitors then watch a pre-show featuring a fictional airline before lining up at their designated row to board.
Pre-shows
- The initial pre-show includes a flight attendant who highlights notable European sites such as Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower.
- The second pre-show offers safety guidelines on fastening seatbelts and remaining seated throughout the ride.
Ride
The ride vehicle consists of a large, box-shaped seating platform facing a screen, equipped with fans that activate during the simulation. After "departing" from Ireland, riders experience a virtual flight over European landmarks accompanied by relaxing music before "returning" to Ireland. Following this, the loading platform lowers, and guests exit through a corridor adorned with images of the landmarks seen during the ride. This corridor also functions as the entrance for Quick Queue holders.