Special Livery Depicts Characters And Scenes From 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'

Air New Zealand, which has taken to billing itself a "The official airline of Middle-earth," has unveiled a "stunning" 777-300 aircraft which is set to become a flying billboard for the soon-to-be-released movie "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey."

Special guests at the unveiling in Auckland, New Zealand, Friday morning were among the first to see the exterior imagery which depicts characters from the upcoming movie, which is the first in a planned trilogy of films from Kiwi director Sir Peter Jackson.
 
Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe says the imagery, which extends the full length of the 240-foot-long, is simply stunning.  "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. 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.

"We are thrilled to see so many international visitors booked to travel to Wellington for the world premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey; we want them to experience the magic of Middle-earth as soon as they set foot on this aircraft," Fyfe said.
 
Air New Zealand is also looking forward to having the film-inspired 777-300 make a brief spectacular appearance at the red carpet event in Wellington, just prior to the premiere on November 28.
 
Sue Kroll, Warner Bros. Pictures' President, Worldwide Marketing, says Air New Zealand's involvement is unique. "Air New Zealand has already proven their creativity and innovation with their delightful Middle-earth-inspired safety video, and now this extraordinary aircraft wrap," she said. "We look forward to continuing to work with them in support of the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in the months ahead."

"It's wonderful to see such a stunning image to celebrate The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey on one of Air New Zealand's largest international aircraft," said film director Sir Peter Jackson. "It's a unique representation of the innovation and creativity of New Zealanders and a great opportunity to show off the incomparably beautiful landscape of this country."
 
Air New Zealand will launch a second flying billboard next year utilizing another of its long haul aircraft to celebrate the second movie in the trilogy, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
 
Earlier in the month, Air New Zealand released its most popular in-flight safety video to date. An Unexpected Briefing, which was created by the Academy Award-winning Weta Workshop and starred cast and crew members from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, as well as fans and Air New Zealand's own cabin crew and pilots, has become a global hit with almost 10 million views on YouTube since its release on November 1.

(Images provided by Air New Zealand)

FMI: www.airnewzealand.com