Air New Zealand is currently operating 14 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, 20 Airbus A320s and 11 A320/A321neo aircraft as well as 28 ATR 72-600s and 23 Bombardier DHC-8-300s.
According to the airline, the fleet also includes 7 Boeing 777-300ERย aircraft and 8ย Boeing 777-200ERย aircraft which are currently non-operating and in storage as a result of the continuing COVID-19 border closures.
The carrier advised at its annual review on its financial results on August 26 that the “787s that will enter the fleet from the 2024 financial year will now replace the 777-300 fleet which is expected to be phased out within this decade”.
Originally the plan was to only replace the 777-200s but COVID market closures has changed the plan.
Top Copyright Photo: Air New Zealand Boeing 777-319 ER ZK-OKO (msn 38407) LHR (SPA). Image: 954821.
Air New Zealand (Auckland), the official airline of Middle-earth, is giving fans a sneak peek at its next inflight safety video, an epic tale which will conclude the airlineโs highly successful three year association with The Hobbit Trilogy.
The video will celebrate the third and final film in The Hobbit Trilogy – The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies and the airlineโs partnership with the film franchise and feature cameo appearances from director Sir Peter Jackson, Weta Workshop co-founder Sir Richard Taylor and cast members of the films.
The yet to be titled safety video was shooting this week amidst dramatic Central Otago, New Zealand scenery under the direction of Taika Waititi of Boy and What we do in the Shadows fame. Taika Waititi will also make a special cameo appearance as โThe Wizardโ.
Air New Zealand Chief Marketing and Customer Officer Mike Tod says the video will be a real celebration of Middle-earth and all that it has to offer.
โAir New Zealand has been the official airline of Middle-earth for more than a decade now and we want to mark the final film in The Hobbit Trilogy in a very special way. This video brings together iconic New Zealand film locations with some of the famous faces and Taika Waititiโs signature directing style. We canโt wait to unveil it on board later this year,โ says Mr Tod.
Air New Zealand has invested several million dollars into global marketing campaigns and initiatives to celebrate the Hobbit films and attract visitors to New Zealand including branding two Boeing 777-300 long haul aircraft with Hobbit imagery (see below).
Above Copyright Photo: Wingnut/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-319 ER ZK-OKO (msn 38407) displays the image of Smaug, the dragon, as it departs the runway at Los Angeles International Airport.
Above Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-319 ER ZK-OKP (msn 39041) was the first ANZ Triple Seven in the special “The Airline of Middle Earth – The Hobbit” livery.
The airlineโs latest safety video follows on from the highly successful An Unexpected Briefing released in 2012 which has become a global hit, with more than 12 million views online (see below).
Above Video: Air New Zealand.
The new safety video is expected to be rolled out across the airlineโs fleet from late October 2014.
Top Copyright Photo: Air New Zealand. Safety video director Taika Waititi is pictured on the set. An Orc tests out Air New Zealandโs new Premium Economy seat.
Air New Zealand:ย
Below Video: How Air New Zealand does social (one of most successful uses of social media by any airline):
Air New Zealand (Auckland) has done it again. The champion of promotion today launched it latest Hobbit-theme aircraft, this time with Smaug, the dragon, emblazoned on Boeing 777-319 ER ZK-OKO (msn 38407) (above) now flying to Los Angeles for the movie premier.
The airline issued this statement:
The Official Airline of Middle-earth today announced the key elements of its global marketing campaign two weeks ahead of the premiere of the second film in The Hobbit Trilogy, which is a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures.
A key feature of the airlineโs campaign, titled Middle-earth is closer than you think, is a competition to give three Hobbit movie fans from around the world the money-canโt-buy opportunity to attend the world premiere movie screening with a friend. A fourth lucky entrant will win a once-in-a-life-time Middle-earth experience for two in New Zealand.
The video Just Another Day in Middle-earth stars Airย Newย Zealand flight attendants, pilots, aircraft engineers, an aircraft marshall, baggage handlers and airport staff as themselves, with a cheeky film-inspired twist, and more than 120 extras. It aims to inspire travellers from around the world to take their own unexpected journey โ with the key message โMiddle-earth is closer than you thinkโ.
The video also features Kiwi Dean OโGorman, who plays dwarf Fili, and the voice of Sylvester McCoy, The Hobbit Trilogyโs Radagast the Brown.
Dean OโGorman says the video captures both the magic of The Hobbit films and the unique personality of Airย Newย Zealand.
โThe cast and crew have been travelling to New Zealand so much over the past few years the airlineโs become like a second home to some of them and they just love the uniquely Kiwi service. It was great to be involved in this video and see so many Airย Newย Zealand staff having a bit of fun with all the Hobbit film references.โ
Viewers of the video from around the world can enter for their chance to win one of four trips of a lifetime for two to their choice of either Middle-earth (New Zealand) or to the premiere of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug in Los Angeles, including airfares, accommodation and rental car.
Another feature of the Airย Newย Zealand marketing campaign will be the unveiling of a Boeing 777-300 aircraft in special Hobbit film-inspired livery on December 2 in Auckland (see above). The flying billboard will leave that night for Los Angeles where it will touch down in time for the The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug premiere.
Head of Global Brand Development Jodi Williams says there is a common perception that New Zealand is tucked away at the bottom of the earth and the perceived distance barrier stops some travellers considering the country as a destination.
โFor travellers from the majority of Airย Newย Zealandโs long haul destinations, including Shanghai, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Hong Kong and Tokyo, Middle-earth is just a sleep away.โ
Tourism New Zealand figures from last yearโs marketing activity around The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey show 82 percent of international survey respondents stated the campaign increased their interest in New Zealand. 8.5 percent of international visitors to New Zealand during January-March this year said The Hobbit Trilogy was a factor in stimulating their interest in New Zealand and one percent said it was the most important factor.
Fromย Academy Awardยฎ-winning filmmakerย Peter Jackson, director of โThe Lord of the Ringsโ Trilogy, comes โThe Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.โย Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey, with Martin Freeman in the central role of Bilbo Baggins, and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield.ย The international ensemble cast is led by Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Stephen Fry, Ken Stott, James Nesbitt, and Orlando Bloom as Legolas.ย The film also stars Mikael Persbrandt, Sylvester McCoy, Aidan Turner, Dean OโGorman, Graham McTavish, Adam Brown, Peter Hambleton, John Callen, Mark Hadlow, Jed Brophy, William Kircher, Stephen Hunter, Ryan Gage, John Bell, Manu Bennett and Lawrence Makoare.
The screenplay for โThe Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaugโ is by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro, based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. Jackson also produced the film, together with Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner and Fran Walsh. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Toby Emmerich, Ken Kamins and Carolyn Blackwood, with Philippa Boyens and Eileen Moran serving as co-producers.
New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Present a Wingnut Films Production, โThe Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.โย The film is a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), with New Line managing production.ย Warner Bros. Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television distribution being handled by MGM.ย www.thehobbit.com
Copyright Photos: Air New Zealand.
Air New Zealand (see the other special theme aircraft):ย
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