Richard Simmons, Air NZ’s Latest Safety Ambassador

Air New Zealand’s safety ambassador for its new inflight safety video is US fitness legend Richard Simmons.

Starting today, Simmons will be putting Air New Zealand customers through their paces, as he takes them step-by-step through the airline’s pre-flight safety briefing.

The inflight video features Air New Zealand cabin crew and Les Mills fitness instructors working out in colourful lycra, fluorescent leg warmers and sweat bands.

Simmons is also assisted in conveying the key safety messages with some celebrity cameo roles by the Amazing Race presenter Phil Keoghan, sporting a bright yellow headband, television personality Paul Henry, in orange shorts and pink sweat band, and Silver Fern Temepara George in some stunning silver hot pants.

Watch carefully and you may even catch a glimpse of Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe who donned pink shorts and a purple head band for the occasion.

Simmons, accompanied by the cabin crew, shows passengers the essential safety information, including how to “stretch like a giraffe” to put baggage into the overhead lockers, and Simmons’ favourite move “the duck”.

‘Fit to Fly’ follows on from the airline’s hugely successful recent inflight safety videos, which have totalled more than 7,000,000 views on YouTube, including ‘Bare Essentials of Safety’ which featured body-painted staff and ‘Crazy About Rugby’ featuring All Blacks players including captain Richie McCaw.

Air New Zealand General Manager Marketing and Communications Mike Tod says the new in-flight safety briefing again features Air New Zealand cabin crew, working alongside Simmons, to convey the safety messages.

“Safety is paramount and non-negotiable at Air New Zealand, and Fit to Fly will again get our passengers sitting up and taking notice of these important pre-flight messages in an engaging and fun way,” says Mr Tod. “Simmons’ fitness moves will definitely ensure that all eyes are on the safety briefing.”

The new ‘Fit to Fly’ safety video goes live today onboard Air New Zealand’s narrowbody aircraft fleets, and will also be showing on the airline’s widebody aircraft from 1 May.

The music track featured on the inflight safety video is a specially recorded version of Yazz’s 1980s hit record ‘The Only Way is Up’, performed by New Zealand singer Leza Corban.

The new safety video and exclusive behind-the-scenes content with some hilarious additional dance-offs with Phil Keoghan, Temepara George and Paul Henry can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/airnewzealand

ENDS

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