Qatar Airways’ new safety video featuring FC Barcelona players Messi, Suarez, Neymar, Pique, Rakitic and Mascherano landed as a hit across all social media channels, generating nearly 40 million views since its debut in December.

The figure is thought to be a record among airline safety videos.

In addition, Qatar Airways’ new brand campaign, Going Places Together, generated extraordinary attention online with 31 million views of the new television commercial over the same time period inspiring millions with its message of travel as a transformative experience.

In a step-change from the airline’s traditional in-flight safety content, Qatar Airways communicated the airline’s essential safety information in scenes which depicted Suarez taking to the pitch in a life vest, while Pique causes a stir with waiting fans.

This safety video will be shown to all passengers on board every Qatar Airways flight, reaching tens of millions of people in addition to the community of fans online.

Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar Al Baker said: “We saw an opportunity to bring some of our signature creativity to something that had become just another part of the on-board experience.

“Safety is of course at the heart of our operations as a global airline and I am delighted that our successful partnership with FC Barcelona has been so warmly received in this way by our passengers and the online viewing public.”

Total viewing time of the safety video as posted to YouTube equates to a remarkable 39 years and 94 days since its launch.

Take a look below: