With more local competition from Jetstar and more international competition from the likes of Qantas and American Airlines, Air New Zealand has been working the local angle pretty hard this year, with a new brand campaign, plenty of All Blacks action, an impressive promotion of its 75th anniversary and a recent focus on its partnership with DoC. And now it’s aiming to top off what’s been a very good year, both in terms of marketing output and financial results, by delivering a bit of Christmas magic.
True, which has been behind a lot of the best work for the airline this year, once again created the TVC, which tells the behind the scenes story of how Air New Zealand gets presents wrapped and ready for delivery and was shot by Exposure. But instead of a sleigh and reindeer, Santa delivers the presents from a Q300 aircraft (we’d like to see him land that on a roof).
An Air New Zealand spokesperson said the airline “plays a key role connecting people with their loved ones at this time of year and we wanted to do something special to celebrate the spirit of Christmas”.
A hangar at Air New Zealand’s Regional Maintenance Base in Nelson was transformed into Santa’s workshop and Air New Zealand engineers, cabin crew and baggage handlers took on the role of Santa’s elves.
Giving them a hand were 30 Nelson school children aged five to seven, no doubt an effort to get on Santa’s nice list this year.
Last year it was the children of Portobello on the Otago Peninsula who celebrated Christmas with Air New Zealand.
Like last year, Santa and Air New Zealand’s elves will be returning to the airline’s domestic services in the lead up to Christmas to spread some extra Christmas cheer.
