Just three days since its launch, Air New Zealand’s new “Fit to Fly” safety video featuring US fitness legend Richard Simmons has now been viewed more than a million times on YouTube.

It is currently the #1 most viewed video on YouTube in Australia and New Zealand, #2 in the USA and a staggering #4 worldwide. It has been the most viewed video clip each day on YouTube since its launch, as well topping the YouTube charts for “Top Favourite” and “Top Comedy”.

In the video, which is receiving world-wide media coverage, Simmons takes customers step-by-step through the airline’s pre-flight safety briefing, which also features Air New Zealand cabin crew, Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe and Phil Keoghan from the Amazing Race in colourful lycra and sweatbands.

Air New Zealand General Manger Marketing and Communications Mike Tod says the success of the new safety video demonstrates the power of social media in raising awareness of the airline across the world.

“In a matter of hours the new safety video had become a global hit on YouTube, and was the ninth most tweeted about video in the world yesterday, quite extraordinary when you consider there are 140 million tweets per day,” says Mr Tod.

“There have been hundreds of news items about the video with many proclaiming it the best inflight safety video ever. CBS News, ABC News, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, The Telegraph (UK), The Australian and Channel Seven Australia to name a just a few. We’re also featuring on some top rating blogs, including Ryan Seacrest who is the host of America Idol and other TV and radio slots in the USA.”

But Air New Zealand’s international video success doesn’t stop at its latest inflight safety video, also riding high on the charts is the recently released music video between international rapper Snoop Dogg and Air New Zealand’s furry mascot Rico. Rico, who is known for his exceptionally flirty viral ads promoting the airline’s new Skycouch, was recently flown to Los Angeles to collaborate on a new hit track launching a week before the release of Snoop’s new album, “Doggumentary.”

This music video “Hello Sunshine”, filmed in Los Angeles, has also been receiving international media coverage and has achieved half a million views on YouTube. The new “Fit to Fly” safety video, Snoop Dogg and Rico’s music video, plus exclusive behind-the-scenes content can be viewed at: www.youtube.com/airnewzealand.

‘Fit to Fly’ follows on from the airline’s hugely successful Nothing to Hide and Bare Essentials of Safety inflight video campaigns which have totalled more than 12,000,000 views on YouTube.