Qatar Airways has scored a goal with a new safety video featuring star soccer players in a humorous locker room scenario
Brazilian footballer Neymar Jr, FC Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski and AS Roma legend Cafu are led through the in-flight safety routine by British actors Jason Thorpe and Ross Hatt.
READ: The 20 best airlines for 2020.
Set in a pre-game locker room with Thorpe as the coach and Hatt his assistant, the new safety video was directed and co-written by Peter Lydon and comes in at a fairly hefty six minutes.
Watch the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OT3CLInWrk4&feature=youtu.be
The star appearances see Lewandowski demonstrate how to use a life jacket, Cafu help a younger version of himself attach an oxygen mask and Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar Jr guide Qsuite passengers.
The video is the latest in a growing trend that has prompted flight attendants to question whether the entertaining in-flight videos detract from the safety message they intend to impart.
But the creative agency behind the video argues humor has been shown to increase memory.
“So there seems to be no better way to communicate such important information than by making it fun,” said Kalle Henzen, the executive creative director at 180 Kingsday.
Qatar Airways senior vice president marketing and communications Salam Al Shawa said safety was a priority at the airline and it wanted to ensure everyone, including frequent travelers, watched the safety briefings.
“The wonderfully creative concept from 180 Kingsday will capture our passengers’ attention whilst providing a fun, light-hearted video to get the in-flight entertainment underway,” she said.
“The level of quality and attention to detail in this video is paramount and I am sure the content will both inform and amuse our global passengers of all ages.”
The video capitalizes on Qatar’s sponsorship of a number of top-level sporting events and football clubs around the globe, including AS Roma, Boca Juniors and FC Bayern Munich.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is due to take place in Qatar from late November to mid-December, a departure from the usual mid-year timetable.
