John Travolta Angers Qantas Employees With In-Flight Video Appearance

By Sarah Crow Posted Mar 22nd 2011 01:15PM

Looks like someone was taking his role in 'Broken Arrow' a bit too seriously.

Employees at Australia's national airline, Qantas, are more than a bit miffed after actor John Travolta showed up on-screen in full pilot regalia to introduce their most recent in-flight safety video.

Travolta, who is a certified private pilot, tells passengers, "This is your captain speaking -- well, maybe not today," which Qantas employees have panned as "tacky" and "corny," in addition to being insistent about having a "real" pilot make the announcement.

While Travolta's experience has mainly involved flying small planes, in 2010, he famously piloted Oprah Winfrey's entire studio audience to Australia as part of an all-expenses paid trip to celebrate her talk show's final season.

Check out John Travolta's video for Qantas.

Tags: John Travolta

Comments

(42)

Tuesday 22 March

By Michele

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I don't understand what the problem the Quantas people have with John Travolta. I watched the video and saw absolutely nothing wrong with it. As a matter of fact, I thought he was paying homage to the Quantas pilots. There are far too many other problems in this world - they shouldn't get upset or angry over this. That's ridiculous!

By Dan

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I don't see a problem even if he wasn't a pilot for over 40 years. He's an actor, I think the uniform was appropriate regardless whom was standing there. I don't think I want to fly Quantas now if they have that mindset. I'd rather go with Mel Gibson on Air America.

By sandgurl

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I love John, I think he should be on dancing with the Stars

By Hula Girl

John Travolta would ROCK DWTS !! And he would WIN IT!!

By Helen

To Sara Crow: He did not fly Oprah's studio audience to Australia.
I heard it directly from Oprah herself. He was supposed to but it coincided with the birth of his son.

By jim

cant stand john at all lousey actor now everyone says he is gay

By britfan

I've been on one of the Qantas flights that has John Travolta introducing the safety instructions. He did an excellent job and it was handled the way an actual Qantas pilot would do it. I'm sure MORE people paid attention to it BECAUSE John introduced it. I know I did. So if any Qantas employees have a problem with it they need to get over it! I love flying Qantas they are one of the best airlines out there, so let's hope this is much ado about nothing and they will concentrate on what they are good at, which is treating their customers excellently!!!

By mj

Those Quantas employees need to calm down. That should not have been offensive to anyone.

By JasFromOz

It's QANTAS, people, not Quantas. It's an acronym for Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Service.

By Liz

I think it's a fabulous idea for him to be featured on the video. It makes it a bit less boring. Yes, he is a very experienced pilot. Quantas employees should feel fortunate that he likes their employer. I really don't understand what the big deal is. I enjoyed watching him, and he seemed quite humble during the video.

By Jeanne

I thought it was a very well thought out intro and ending to the flight safety briefing. I really didn't see it as tacky or corny. Being a respected pilot himself...He is promoting the confidence he has in the pilots of this airline. Well done.

By mikalaharden

This is one of the better safety videos I have seen. I say kuduos to Quantas and JT!

By Suncatcher

I fly a lot. I watched the video and found it to be one of the best airline safety videos ever - with or without John Travolta. (But even better with him)! Well done, Qantas!

PS - Just read that Qantas employees are threatening a strike for "job security" = could have something to do with their response to Travolta.

By Val

Why are Quantas employee's miffed? Quantas had to have asked John to do this, he didn't film it himself and make the airlines run it unauthorized.
I love John, he looks and is professional in this video. He has his own airport on his property near my brother in Florida. I also thought he has some large planes, maybe not 747s but bigger than Cesnas.
John also looks happy and that makes me happy too.

By ram6968

I think the point is...he doesn't fly people around the world day in and day out for a living...for him it's "just for fun" so he's out of his element

By bigtexdaddy

Though few people know, Travolta flew airliners (707 & 747's) for Qantas to gather multi engine jet flight time. He owns a Boeing 707 that he parks in front of his Florida home. I would rather fly with Travolta than ride in a car with Charlie Sheen.

By allardjd

Travolta owns and flies a Gulfstream II and a former Qantas Boeing 707B (still in Qantas colors) as captain. Neither of those are "small airplanes".

He holds the required type certificates to do so, though of course he has to hire other certified pilots to crew with him as neither of those AC is certified for single-pilot operation.

By charlie05

sorry for confusion!
what i meant
doesn't "qantas" have pilots who could have done the announcement why do "celebs" have to be in everything

By john

No one wants to fly with a scientologist nut case,get a regular pilot.

good grief charlie brown!

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