Years ago, a goose boarded a New Zealand airline jet instead of using its own wings. Now Emirates is presenting a very similar promotional video – and Air New Zealand is responding.
A white goose enters Sydney Airport dragging a suitcase behind it. “I know what you’re thinking: Why is this bird taking an Air New Zealand flight to Los Angeles,” says the animal and gets on the plane. “Well, I used to fly long distances a lot, but this migration across the Pacific is hard work.”
Air New Zealand’s nearly two-minute video follows the goose named Dave on its flight on the New Zealand airline’s jet. The advertisement dates back to 2016 and has won several awards.
Air New Zealand responds to Emirates goose
In August 2022, Emirates released a promotional video that was shorter but very similar in concept. In it, a black, white, and tan Canada goose named Gerry decides to fly on Emirates’ Airbus A380 instead of using its own wings. The video has been viewed more than 4.6 million times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lGRtUA9Mds
In early September, Air New Zealand responded with a clip addressed to Emirates. “I finally convinced my old friend Gerry not to fly anymore,” says white goose Dave. “The only problem is, he caught the wrong airline. What do you do at Emirates, Gerry? It should be Air New Zealand!” This is the airline with “the delicious cuisine, the Kiwi hospitality and the clever campaigns”.
Gerry ya goose, you got the wrong airline! ????♂️ @emirates pic.twitter.com/Kmjt529dLy
— Air New Zealand ✈️ (@FlyAirNZ) September 2, 2022
Birds really do fly with Air New Zealand
Emirates responded with a short video of its own, writing that they recommended Dave “definitely fly Emirates” because of the comfortable seats, among other things. While the New Zealand airline enriches its clip with some new images, the Dubai airline only uses its existing footage with new soundtrack.
Don’t wing it, Dave! You definitely want to fly with Emirates for the long haul. And Dubai is a sweet spot for migratory stops. See you here! @FlyAirNZ pic.twitter.com/XMM0ynpzwZ
— Emirates Airline (@emirates) September 3, 2022
Incidentally, birds are actually seen on Air New Zealand planes, albeit not in the same way as in the goose promotional videos. So the airline only transported in August six Chatham Plovers, one of the world’s rarest shorebirds, in an ATR-72.