Air New Zealand reveals Middle Earth airliner

Air New Zealand has unveiled a Boeing 777-300ER featuring a promotional livery for the forthcoming The Hobbit movie trilogy.

Tbe aircraft, which depicts characters from the soon to be released The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, also features elements of the airline’s new livery, including the white koru on black tail, and Air New Zealand titles featuring the airline’s new typeface.

The Hobbit films, like The Lord of the Rings trilogy, are being filmed in New Zealand and are directed by New Zealander Sir Peter Jackson.

“This aircraft is going to excite passengers and fans of Sir Peter Jackson’s award-winning cinema fantasies alike when it begins regular Air New Zealand services between Auckland, Los Angeles and London from this evening [November 24],” Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe said.

“New Zealand is the home of Middle-earth and The Hobbit movies will be hugely important to New Zealand’s tourism industry in the next couple of years as international tourists are inspired to come and see and experience for themselves the landscapes which have shaped the movies.”

Air New Zealand has scheduled the aircraft to operate primarily to Los Angeles and London, and does not intend to operate it to Australia.

Comments (8)

Pingback: Air New Zealand reveals Middle Earth airliner

Air Observer

November 24, 2012 at 8:16 pm

Love it!

Red-faced Kiwi

November 25, 2012 at 6:29 am

Can Air New Zealand find something else to promote other than rugby and hobbits? We need something the Aussies can’t tease us about.

George

November 25, 2012 at 1:56 pm

I think this is a fantastic promotion for New Zealanders. Im Australian but you don’t really find anything patriotic these days on our aircraft. Qantas management continue to destroy any piece of patriotic pride we once had. Just look at their latest campaign.

Disasterous

Dane

November 25, 2012 at 3:20 pm

Qantas did have the 747’s with Aboriginal artwork painted on them.

The 777 does look rather smart with the new paint job

George

November 25, 2012 at 3:53 pm

Alan Joyce had those 747s reprinted in the corporate image. No longer an aboriginal livery

J Bowen

November 26, 2012 at 2:51 pm

Contrary to the report, ZKOKP will operate at least four times across the Tasman between now and the end of the year with two visits each to Brisbane and Sydney on scheduled services.