Air New Zealand turns to celebrity survivalist Bear Grylls for safety video

Air New Zealand has become known for its inventive approach to the pre-flight briefing – which has prompted much helpful publicity.

Last year it launched a video encouraging hobbits, orcs and elves to fasten their seatbelts. A digital Gollum was also used to point out the aeroplane safety lights, part of a huge marketing campaign to tie in with the release of Peter Jackon’s film “The Hobbit.”

Previous videos from the airline have featured the “All Blacks” New Zealand rugby team and the US rap artist, Snoop Dogg.

The video that attracted the most attention was a 2009 creation, entitled Bare Essentials, showing a pilot and cabin crew dressed only in body paint made to resemble their normal uniforms.

The latest video, called Bear Essentials – a play on the original – features the British adventurer in the great outdoors, replicating the safety briefing scenes that typically take place in an aircraft.

“If an oxygen mask suddenly drops down in front of you, you could use it as portable loo,” he says. “But a much better idea is to pull down on the mask, place it over your nose and mouth, and tighten by pulling on both sides of the elastic.”

Other Air New Zealand safety videos
“An unexpected briefing,” with Hobbits

“Air Safety with the All Blacks”

Greatest hits from multiple safety videos