Fun Airline Safety Videos

Frequent flyers often tune out the compulsory airline safety videos shown at the start of every flight. Yet, a few airlines are changing the boring PSA into an entertaining and informative video. This shift is more than just a PR move; it benefits everyone onboard. Passengers are more likely to pay attention to compelling videos and will be better prepared in case of an emergency.

Since 2007, airlines have been reinventing their in-flight messages. Virgin Airlines partnered with Anomaly, a branding firm, to add animation and humor to the videos. One of the animators, Gordon P. Clark, also served as the narrator. The most memorable line in the video, “For the .0001 percent of you who have never operated a seat belt before, it works like this,” shapes the tone of later safety videos.

Two years later, Virgin’s Australian branch followed up with its own animated safety video. Richard Branson, the airline’s founder, even makes a brief appearance in the video.

Air New Zealand made an impact with their well-executed Hobbit-themed safety video in 2012. This video plays on the blockbuster success of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit and alludes to Lord of the Rings tourism in New Zealand. The airline playfully calls itself “Airline of the Middle Earth” and plans to continue capitalizing on hobbit-themed tourism.

According to CNN, Air New Zealand’s safety video represented a collaboration with Weta Workshop and Weta Digital and took three days to produce. But the effort was worthwhile, “Passengers appreciate the lighthearted and entertaining approach we take to delivering important safety information,” said Jodi Williams, head of international marketing, Air New Zealand.

Clearly, creative safety videos make passengers pay attention and, hopefully, retain more information. Perhaps humdrum safety videos may be a thing of the past; keep an eye out on your next flight.