Art In The Sky Plane Unveiled

5 August 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Art In The Sky Plane Unveiled

A budding young artist’s dream came true today when his design – in the form 250 square metre decal – was revealed on Freedom’s Air’s second new Airbus at a special ceremony at Auckland Airport.

17 year old art student Ché Ridland from New Plymouth was the winner of the ART IN THE SKY competition, held jointly between Freedom Air and Warner Bros. Movie World (Gold Coast, Australia). The competition invited all New Zealanders to design the decal for plane based around the theme of ‘holidays’, including some visual representation of Warner Bros. Movie World.

Ché only found out that he was the winner when he, together with four other finalists, watched the new Airbus A320 roll out of its hangar at a special launch breakfast.

His design was not only the judges’ choice – he also won the ‘People’s Choice’Award, which was voted for on the Freedom Air website.

Ironically, Ché, who is currently completing his Bachelor of Visual Arts at the Western Institute of Technology, has developed a passion for planes and wants to look into becoming a pilot when he’s finished his degree.

The other four finalists were Robyn Betterton from North Shore, Elizabeth Clark from Hobsonville, Auckland, Damian Galvin from Dunedin, and Stacey Paul from Grey Lynn, Auckland.

After the plane unveiling, each of the finalists were invited along with the judges - including New Zealand artists Dick Frizzell and Billy Apple, and the Head of Axis Design School, David Bell - to join Freedom Air and Warner Village Theme Parks staff on the plane’s inaugural flight to the Gold Coast.

Freedom Air General Manager Stephen Jones says the ART IN THE SKY competition was a huge success, attracting more than 250 entries from throughout New Zealand.

“We are very proud to be welcoming this special plane into our fleet,” he says. “It has been designed by a talented young New Zealander and is a piece of art that’s already proven popular through our website voting competition.

“We look forward to having it on our routes and seeing the reaction from our passengers.”

Warner Village Theme Parks Director of Marketing Ken Minnikin says the plane will be a great tool in attracting more New Zealand visitors to the Gold Coast and the winning design really reflects what the Gold Coast and Warner Bros. Movie World is all about.

“We welcome a lot of New Zealanders to the Gold Coast and it is really great that we have been able to work with a leading tourism partner like Freedom Air on such an exciting initiative.

“Our theme parks attract over 200,000 visitors from New Zealand each year –and Tasman rivalry aside, we love having Kiwis to our parks and we look forward to welcoming lots more!

For his ART IN THE SKY win, Ché received a return trip for four to the Gold Coast with accommodation and a 3 Park Super Pass offering unlimited entry into Sea World, Warner Bros. Movie World and Wet'n'Wild Water World for up to 14 days. And as the winner of the ‘People’s Choice’ Award, he received $1,000 worth of art supplies from his store of choice.

All five finalists received a return trip for two to the Gold Coast and passes to Warner Bros. Movie World in addition to their trip on in the inaugural A320 flight.

Ché’s ART IN THE SKY design, which can be viewed at www.freedomair.com along with the four finalists’ designs, will appear on the A320 Airbus for three years.

ENDS

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