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Air New Zealand is in a flap after Emirates launched a near identical version of its iconic 2016 TV advert featuring Dave the goose, who skips a migration to fly on one of its aircraft.
Emirates’ new campaign shows its own goose, Gerry, also taking the easier flight option and even similarly relaxing in a seat onboard.
Now the Kiwi flag carrier has hit back, releasing a social media video poking fun at Emirates’ campaign and telling Gerry he took the wrong airline.
Emirates played along, countering with a response video telling Dave not to “wing it”.
You can view the two videos, alongside the social media jesting, below.
Air New Zealand’s Dave the goose, voiced by Australian Bryan Brown, featured in a string of adverts and won multiple advertising awards.
Australian Aviation reported last month how Emirates has finally opened its three lounges in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth.
Sydney’s lounge was the first to reopen on 19 July, with the remaining two opening for business over the following weeks.
“Emirates is thrilled to have reopened our lounges across these Australian points as we continue to ramp up our services to Australia,” said Barry Brown, divisional vice president of Emirates Australasia.
Gerry ya goose, you got the wrong airline! ?♂️ @emirates pic.twitter.com/Kmjt529dLy
— Air New Zealand ✈️ (@FlyAirNZ) September 2, 2022
“The lounges will provide our customers with a comfortable and enjoyable experience, offering greater levels of hospitality and convenience.”
It comes after Emirates ramped up its flight schedule to Australia, now operating two daily A380 services to Sydney and Melbourne, with one flight per day to Perth on its Boeing 777-300ER.
However, the Brisbane Emirates lounge will remain closed for now, despite the airline resuming its flagship A380 service to the Queensland capital in March.
Meanwhile, Australian travellers can also now benefit from Emirates’ premium economy offering on its Airbus A380 services to Dubai.
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
The newly upgraded seat provides passengers with more leg room, wider television screens, and a service that would “rival many airlines’ business offering”, according to Emirates.
The airline confirmed that premium economy tickets are one sale now, while flights on its upgraded A380s took off on 1 August.
Flights from Sydney, London, and Paris will be first off the ranks, while Christchurch services will begin in December.
