The Best Airline Safety Videos
Picture from Virgin Atlantic safety video
On this site we are big fans of airline safety videos and we strive to feature here the best ones we come across.
This was a cool creative idea that was started, or at least popularized, by Air New Zealand (please correct me if this is not the case, glad to see earlier examples of creative airline safety videos!) some years ago. The kiwi airline has not only continued to produce these videos with certain regularity (earlier in 2020 it released its 20th artistic safety video) but turned into little less than an artistic genre in its own right.
Following the success of the concept, other airlines followed suit.
The results is that we have now dozens (perhaps hundreds) of airline safety videos and it is starting to become a challenge to track them all down.
This is the reason I thought it would be a good idea to start a repository of all the different airline safety videos out there and of those that keep coming out.
LIST OF BEST AIRLINE SAFETY VIDEOS (BY AIRLINE)
Air New Zealand
Dave’s Found a Better Way to Fly (2106)
Migratory birds can fly very long distances. Luckily for Dave, the goose, there is another, slightly less exhausting way to fly between New Zealand and Los Angeles…
Air All Blacks (2019)
The All Blacks, New Zealand’s iconic and all-powerful rugby team…what a source of inspiration for the country’s marketing, including its national airline (which has even painted some of its aircraft in “all black” livery). Of course, there is an All Blacks safety video as well!
World’s Coolest Safety Video (2018)
Air New Zealand invested quite a lot of effort in this video that features the natural treasures of Antarctica, to the point that it even produced a related “making off” video. However, the video seems to have now been pulled out and, possibly, for good reason. Yet, you can still find it online…
An Unexpected Briefing (2012)
The association of New Zealand to the Lord of the Rings trilogy has proven to be a great trove of ideas for Air New Zealand’s safety videos!
Bare Essentials (2009)
One of the first safety videos that earned Air New Zealand headlines all over the world because…you guessed it…the actors here..bare it all!
Safety in Hollywood (2016)
A parody of the world of Hollywood and cinema in general. Very appropriate given the devotion with which Air New Zealand has embraced this art with its collection of safety videos!
Betty White - Old School Style (2013)
Set in a joyful and sunny care home for the elderly, this safety video is an occasion to show veteran American actress Betty White still in great acting form!
Mile-high Madness with Richard Simmons (2011)
Richard Simmons is a fitness instructor that apparently became famous in the 1970s, the perfect prop to shoot a seventies-themed safety video, with all the stylistic flamboyance of that era.
Men in Black Safety Defenders (2015)
The popular “Men in Black” Hollywood themed reinterpreted with a musical twist…it’s got rhythm!
Safety in Paradise Safety Video (2014)
This safety video, set in the paradisiacal Cook Islands, marks the 50th anniversary of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, you can guess the rest…
Mirry Christmus (2017)
Not your typical Christmas story! This safety video includes also its fair share of self-deprecation and humor, making fun of kiwi accent and the difficulties Santa Claus has to communicate with children from New Zealand when time comes to collect their wishes.
“Take off” Safety Video (2020)
The quest of a girl to help a Takahē, a flightless bird that is unique to New Zealand, return home. This video highlights Air New Zealands contribution to the preservation of the country’s biodiversity. In this regard, the airline flies regularly endangered animals to preservation areas around New Zealand, in an effort to boost conservation programmes.
True Fantastical Journey Safety Video (2017)
Featuring Katie Holmes and Cuba Gooding Jr., this is a visually striking video, almost psychedelic in nature.
John Key’s Safety Video (2017)
You know an artistic genre has reached cult status when even the airline’s director wants to star in it. This is the case of John Key, who served as the airline’s director between 2016 and 2019 and is the main character of this video that contrasts the, just apparent, seriousness of his role with the casualness of what is going on in the cabin.
The Most Epic Safety Video Ever Made
If you are into the Lord of the Rings stories, this safety video is certainly for you. Air New Zealand playing here with the connection of this epic saga to the country, where most scenes of the related movies were filmed.
Summer of Safety (2016)
This safety video is but a big excuse to showcase the exuberance of the Bay of Islands archipelago on the northern tip of New Zealand. And you know what? It works! (just added it to my places-to-visit list)
Safety Safari Safety Video (2015)
First of all, I must confess I had never heard of Alana Blanchard, Anastasia Ashley, Laird Hamilton, Gabriel Medina, Mick Fanning, Masatoshi Ohno, Maz Quinn, Paige Hareb or Ricardo Christie, but all of them are, apparently, big names in the world of surf. Because surf is the main theme of this very refreshing Air New Zealand safety video, that features top locations for the practice of this sport in California, Australia’s Gold Cost and New Zealand.
Qantas (Australia)
Qantas Centenary Safety Video (2020)
A video celebrating the history of Qantas as one of the longest airlines in continuous existence. It features aircraft and crew styles from 100 years of Qantas.
Qantas Safety Video Australians around the world (2018)
If the previous Qantas safety video was all about showing the wonders of Australia. This one is all about Australians showcasing destinations from across Qantas’ international network. Great photography!
Qantas Safety Video - Australia (2017)
A journey through the vastness of Australia and its beauty…of, and some safety instructions along the way too!
ANA (Japan)
ANA Kabuki Safety Video (2018)
This traditional Japanese form of theatre serves as the theme of this video, that includes also some references to Japanese pictorial arts. An exquisite video.
TAP Air Portugal
70 years of TAP Air Portugal safety video
At a time of change (TAP had just been taken over by American investors led by David Neeleman), this video reaffirmed TAP’s long history and its decades of service connecting Lisbon first to Portugal’s overseas territories and in more recent times, with the global economy.
TAP Visit Portugal Safety Video (2018)
Portugal and its wonders (which are not few!) are the main character of this TAP safety video. It features people from all over the world at some of the country’s most beautiful spots. If you watch this video while en route to Portugal, it will certainly pique your curiosity and perhaps you may even consider prolonging your stay. If you are just transiting through Lisbon, it may make you consider taking advantage of TAP’s Portugal Stopover programme.
British Airways
British Airways Onboard Safety Video (2018)
BA’s onboard safety video featuring celebrities such as Gordon Ramsay, Sir Ian McKellen and Thandie Newton was such a massive success that, like many a great movie it promptly got its sequel.
British Airways Onboard Safety Video Sequel (2018)
This one was also packed with British actors and celebrities: Sir Michael Caine, Joanna Lumley, David Walliams, Olivia Colman, Asim Chaudhry, Jourdan Dunn and Naomie Harris were part of the cast. In addition to providing safety instructions, this video has the goal of promoting Flying Start, a charity partnership between British Airways and Comic Relief that supports children around the world.
LATAM
LATAM Safety Video (2017)
A journey through different natural environments suitable for leisure activities (presumably in the many destinations LATAM has across Latin America) from ski slopes to the beach and sleeping under the stars.
El Al
El Al Supernatural Safety Video (2017)
The mere act of flying may sometimes feel like a defiance of the laws of physics, but nothing to bend them fully like a real mentalist with extraordinary powers!
American Airlines
American Airlines Safety Video (2016)
A surreal airline safety video resembles a work of contemporary experimental cinema.
Air France
Air France Safety Video - Bienvenue Abord (2018)
French style and sophistication is the subtle theme of this Air France safety video. Very “chic”!
Delta Airlines (USA)
Delta Back to the 80s Safety Video
For those of us that are old enough to remember the eighties this video is quite something! Although some of the cultural references in these may sound ancient, or directly indecipherable, to the millennial (and post-millennial!) generation!
Delta Uniform Safety Video (2018)
As one of the oldest airlines in the world (it’s been operating for over 90 years!) it is just right that Delta looks to its history back with pride. And a safety video is as good an excuse as any other to showcase the history of Delta Airlines through the design of its uniforms.
Iberia
Iberia safety video featuring Madrid
The city of Madrid, Iberia’s home base, appears to be the sponsor of this video. The Spanish capital and some of its landmarks appear at the start and at the end of the video, while the central part, when the safety instructions are actually provided is set up in an stylized aircraft interior.
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways FC Barcelona Safety Video
This one is quite a classic, from the time when Qatar Airways was the primary sponsor of FC Barcelona. It features several of the team’s stars, including a very young Lionel Messi!
Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines Safety Video (2019)
There is no specific story other than the usual instructions being narrated on this video, but the computer-generated animation is nice enough to grant this Turkish Airlines safety video a place on this list.
Air Tahiti Nui
Air Tahiti Nui Safety Video (2018)
The first creative safety video of the airline of French Polynesia doubles as an advertisement of the wonders of its home archipelago: crystalline waters, surf, relax…what’s not to like?!
Virgin America
VX Safety Dance
Virgin America is no more after its acquisition by Alaska Airlines, but it left us this super dynamic music safety video which features an eclectic combination of contemporary musical styles. I wonder if any passengers ever started dancing to these rhythms when this safety video was in use!
Virgin Atlantic
The Virgin Atlantic Safety Flight Film (2014)
A rather artsy cartoon that takes its inspiration from the history of cinema. Besides the fantastic animated renderings of a VA Boeing 787 Dreamliner, there is so much else in this film. A proper pocket masterpiece.