Aussie_ From Australia, joined Dec 2000, 1702 posts, RR: 18 Posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 2704 times:
A Qantas press release that almost defies belief...
John Travolta becomes Qantas
"Ambassador-at-Large"
Will pilot original Qantas 707 during
"Spirit of Friendship" global tour in July/August
Los Angeles, 24 June 2002:
Australian-based international airline Qantas today announced that international superstar John Travolta has joined the company and has become its "Ambassador-at-Large".
Qantas also announced that following extensive sessions at its Sydney headquarters and with Boeing in Seattle, Mr Travolta has successfully completed 747-400 First Officer simulator training.
Qantas Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Geoff Dixon presented Mr Travolta with his "wings" at Los Angeles airport today. Mr Dixon said the airline was delighted to welcome Mr Travolta to the company as "Ambassador-at-Large".
Mr Travolta said that, as part of his new role with Qantas, he would pilot his own aircraft, an ex-Qantas Boeing 707 jet specially painted in its original Qantas 1960s branding and livery, across the globe to 10 countries on a Spirit of Friendship tour.
The Spirit of Friendship tour will include visits to 13 cities around the world between 1 July and late August this year.
Commenting on Mr Travolta's appointment, Mr Dixon said: "It's no secret that John is an avid fan of aviation. He is also a keen and talented pilot, and supporting his Spirit of Friendship tour is a fantastic way to showcase Qantas in its major overseas markets.
"The tour is also a unique opportunity for Qantas to underscore its commitment to international tourism."
Mr Travolta said he chose the Spirit of Friendship theme for the tour following the shocking events that the world has experienced in the past 12 months.
"The past year has been awful for our sense of security and goodwill and also for trust and friendship between different cultures and countries," he said.
"I'm undertaking this tour to extend the hand of friendship ? to reach out, to cross borders, make contact, rekindle friendships and make new friends.
"That's why I've teamed up with Qantas, an airline which embodies the spirit of Australia and the spirit of friendship. I've always admired the Qantas safety record and culture and I've been attracted to its values of quality, openness and friendliness."
Mr Travolta will fly from Los Angeles to Auckland in New Zealand, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, London, Rome, Paris, Frankfurt and New York before returning to Los Angeles. The tour involves about 80 flying hours and covers more than 35,000 nautical miles (64,700 kilometres).
As "Ambassador-at-Large" Mr Travolta has become a Qantas employee and will, during the global tour, spend time with fellow Qantas employees in each market.
Mr Travolta purchased the ex-Qantas 707 four years ago and has been an enthusiastic aviator since his childhood.
Jsmith From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2001, 339 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 2331 times:
Boy, has JT been completely duped into making this kind of statement? He has obviously never enjoyed, or should I say, endured a recent QF flight or dealt with QF management in Sydney:
"That's why I've teamed up with Qantas, an airline which embodies the spirit of Australia and the spirit of friendship. I've always admired the Qantas safety record and culture and I've been attracted to its values of quality, openness and friendliness."
Wirraway From Australia, joined Mar 2001, 1321 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 2310 times:
ABC News Online
Self-professed "airline geek" and actor John Travolta has earned a new pair of wings as a first officer for Qantas Airways.
He also unveiled a world tour to promote air travel that has weakened since September 11.
Travolta, an avid pilot and Oscar-nominated star of movies from Saturday Night Fever to Pulp Fiction, trained with Qantas and on 747 simulators at Boeing in Seattle and was now officially "Ambassador-at-large" for the Australian airline.
Shortly after, Qantas chief executive officer Geoff Dixon pinned the golden wings on Travolta, who was wearing a crisp blue aviator's uniform.
The actor called the moment "one of the proudest days of my life".
"Without crying here, I would say it's at least alongside the two Oscar nominations I've received in my career. It's right up there with that," Travolta said.
Travolta, 48, said as far back as when he was four-years-old, he wanted his own pilot's uniform.
He began taking flying lessons at age 16 and earned his jet pilot's licence in 1981. Since then, he has logged 5,000 hours of flying time.
"Besides my serious attitude toward flying, I have to admit something to all of you, I am an airline geek," Travolta said.
He has a son named Jett, and joked that he wanted to name his daughter "Qantas" but wife Kelly Preston wouldn't allow it.
Travolta said his new plans stem from a tour he took to Australia last summer to promote his action thriller, Swordfish.
Travolta owns a vintage Boeing 707 that was first flown by Qantas and when he arrived in Australia in the plane, he said, it caused quite a stir.
He asked to meet with Mr Dixon and told him if Qantas would return his 1960s plane to its original colors, he would fly around the world to promote the airline.
The movie promotion took place shortly before the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York and Pentagon in Washington, DC.
After the attacks, he and Mr Dixon decided to broaden the scope of his promise to promote not just Qantas, but the airline industry and flying, in general, Travolta said.
"Personally, I can not think of a better ambassador for Qantas than John," Mr Dixon said.
So, in his freshly painted 707 dubbed the "Jett Clipper Ella," on July 1, Travolta will take to the air from Los Angeles and head to Auckland, New Zealand to begin the 10-nation "Spirit of Friendship" tour.
Other destinations will include Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, London, Rome, Paris, Frankfurt and New York.
Mx5_boy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 2028 times:
Guys,
For a start who really gives a flying ***k about JT?
Who would demean themselves to grovel to a movie star in the first place? The only reason I could think of is for the commercial value of a safety card with JT's signiature on it. How booring.
Secondly I would be just as happy having any QF pilot sign a log book or safety card.
Thirdly, why have an American *Hollywood* actor be an ambassador for an AUSTRALIAN AIRLINE?
As an Australian I am disgusted in QF. Sometimes I would like to think the national carrier had more sense or showed a bit of pride in it's origin country. But yet again they defy logic and common sense.
Kind of like those QF ads a few years back whereby they got caught out showing supposed Australian landscape when in fact it was Hawaii.
Shame Qantas. Why don't they fly the stars and stripes and ditch the Kanga? I could understand this if it were a *local* marketing campaign but this is global and defies logic.
Cx flyboy From Hong Kong SAR, PRC, joined Dec 1999, 5583 posts, RR: 61 Reply 14, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 2025 times:
MX5,
Qantas have just generated a lot of interest and instant publicity for their airline worldwide. Regardsless of what you think of Travolta, he is well liked by many around the world and this is very clever of the QF management. Nothing can please everyone, but I do believe that this will appeal to the majority and QF has been very clever in coming up with this plan.
Does anyone know whether JT will actually be flying on Qantas aircraft? Otherwise why would he get a 744 FO rating? He has spend $120 million on a plane at Boeing. That price could easily pay for a second hand 744, and there are a lot of them available!!
Freedomair737 From New Zealand, joined Oct 2001, 96 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 2013 times:
It's awesome to have someone with the stature in society such as JT to have such a deep interest in aviation....i'm sure if i was as successful as he is and had the $ he does i'd do the same, get a 744 rating and buy large airliners!
Anyway, how long will he be spending in each city during his tour?
Mx5_boy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 1979 times:
CXflyboy,
Of course it has generated interest and instant publicity, I think it was the whole point. But it certainly doesn't stop me from being disgusted in QF for promoting a so called ambassador for QF who just happens to be an American citizen and a Hollywood movie star?
QF is an AUSTRALIAN AIRLINE. If you don't get the point then you are no with the game mate.
If this was a *local* adevertising campaign then fine. The fact that it is global shows that QF is arrogant and ignorant of it's Aussie homeland.
QF prostituting itself on the back of an American icon is obcene.
As for those of you who hero worship movie stars, think again. What are you worshipping?
"I still call Australia home... my arse... I, QF, don't give a flying white rats about Australia, except that I have a monopoly on domestic routes and can do what I want..."
As for JT's love of aviation, good on him, it makes no difference to me who he is.
Mx5_boy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 20, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 1940 times:
V-Jet,
I think you are right on that one mate.
The funny thing is I was reading an article in the Economist about how Australia has remained the only OECD country to survive economic slowdown and prosper. I was proud of that.
But can you tell me why we should be proud of QF when they rate nary a mention in any of the Internation ratings of airlines with exception of safety?
The fact that we can prove ourselves as such a small nation on the world stage in so many things is important. But our national carrier lacks so much. I think Geoffy would be better off investing some time and money in making QF a much more pleasant experience to travel than subsidising some ratty Hollywood actor to be an "ambassador to the world".
Who on earth are QF thinking of raising their profile for? The creme of the crop are the high yeilding pax, why are QF not instituting company customer service skills upgrades worldwide?
I can see it now, "oh daddy, can we fly Qantas as Jt will be the FO".
I want to see QF up in the top three airlines and they and we are capable of it. AN managed it.
Bernard Shakey From United States, joined Oct 2001, 558 posts, RR: 17 Reply 21, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 1872 times:
His salary affords a 707. Most of our salaries afford FS2K2. We're all doing the same thing, he just has more resources.
As far as "hero worshiping," I'm right there with you mx that "stars" are just folks who happen to have more lucrative gigs than the rest of us.
As far as getting down on him for not being Aussie, I think you're missing the point a little bit. I think it's kinda cool that QF has taken advantage of the fact that one of their ex-707s is still airworthy and getting a lot of "face time" around the world. The aircraft being owned by someone recognized world wide is a bonus to them, but I'm sure they'd really love it if it were a world famous Aussie instead of JT. But, it's not, and they'll make do with Travolta.
Let me state that I am no huge fan of JT, although I have enjoyed some of his work over the years. Some of his off-screen affilliations (and on-screen in one less then memorable movie) differ from my own views. But just like most of us in these forums, he's a stranger who has a common interest in aviation. The only difference is he's got enough jack to get his 707 from an airplane broker and not avsim.
Mindless drifter on the road, Carries such an easy load
RayChuang From United States, joined Jun 2000, 7112 posts, RR: 8 Reply 22, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 1862 times:
Why is everyone dumping on John Travolta for all the wrong reasons?
I think you're forgetting that Travolta has a commercial pilot's license, which gives him the ability to fly that former QF 707-138B he now owns. Remember, it was QF that flew the 707-138B, a unique 707 model designed for transpacific operations. What better way to drum up publicity for QF than to hook up with the owner of a former QF jet airliner?
Wirraway From Australia, joined Mar 2001, 1321 posts, RR: 2 Reply 23, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 1785 times:
I just hope that the photographers on this site capture the
707 in its V-Jet colors around the world when the timetable
is known, as it looks brilliant with the new paint.
V Jet From Australia, joined May 1999, 696 posts, RR: 4 Reply 25, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 1724 times:
MX5, you havent been writing letters to the editor at the SMH have you?
See 26 Jun edition.
26 Hawkeye2: Anyone flying with travolta as a relief pilot? Those oceanic legs are long....
27 KAUSpilot: Yes, Travolta will have his on crew of backup pilots and flight attendents for his round the world flight. Personally I think this is awesome! Travolt
28 Leftypilot79: I kinda agree with MX in a sense. Why didn't an AMERICAN carrier that is suffering right now pick up JT to fly their 744s? Or any other plane. It just
29 Hkgspotter1: Great job Qantas and well done to Mr. Travolta. Mr. Travolta loves aviation, he buys very cool planes (707) and tries to put as many planes in his mov
30 Mx5_boy: Hkgspotter, Re-read my posts and tell me where I have indicated I dislike JT? Personally I am neutral about him. V-Jet, I did read the *letters* secti
31 Aardvark: Mx5_boy, How big is your dummy mate. Have you anything positive to say about aviation other than AN? Change your nappy and get over it.
32 Travelin man: I think it's a great move (for Qantas AND JT)! Mx5_boy, I'm sorry that you are rueing the fact that JT is an American flying for an Australian airline
33 Crosscheck: Bravo Travelin Man, I couldn't have said it better myself. Being a patriotic Aussie, and a Qantas fan I think any positive publicity is good publicity
34 Mx5_boy: Travelin Man, **(besides, Mx, I hear he's one of us....)** Funny you should say that, 2 years ago I was in a bar in Wee Ho with a mate and he pointed
35 ExitRow: Photos of all things Travolta/Qantas: http://search.news.yahoo.com/search/news?p=travolta&c=news_photos Check out the interior shots of his 707!
36 AJ: The general feeling here seems to be delight that VH-EBM is alive and well and promoting Qantas 38 years after delivery. The fact that it is been flow
37 Ben88: Well the fact that scientology is extremely unpopular here in the U.S. most likely precluded any American carriers from choosing JT as an official rep
38 Aardvark: Mx5_boy Such a cutting reply. As for Fabulair are you the chief steward?
39 TAA_Airbus: Mx5_Boy, JT came to Qantas, not vice versa! They would be an idiot to turn them down. Go jump off a cliff mate, Ansett is dead, youve obviously got no
40 SixStarAnsett: How much money will John Travolta make out of this venture? Will there be a fee for his services? And how many Ansett staff are left out of work? I th
41 Dennys: HI GUYS !!!! WHAT GREAT NEWS !!!! I AM A B707-138B LOVER . PLEASE TELL ME THE DATES WHEN SHE FLIES EUROPE ! Many tks Regards to all ! dennys.
42 Planeguy: Does anyone have a picture of that plane?
44 Flyn: JUNE 19th 2002 John Travolta was in Seattle the other day to do a little shopping. At Boeing, he reportedly plunked down $120 million for a new plane
45 TG992: Chatterbox: Your captain will pick the movies 29.06.2002 So John Travolta, star of many a movie you can't seem to avoid on economy class in-flight pro
46 AerLingus: The way I see it, this JT thing isn't just a publicity stunt. It also increases awareness for love of aviation. In other words, it's a good thing for
47 Udo: Scientology enters the airline business, Qantas to be the first victim...
48 Continental: Mx5 chief steward for Fabulair! HAHA, that was a good one Aardvark! Continental
49 EC-121K: Typical media reporting. John Travolta did not buy the B707-138B from QANTAS. The airline sold the then VH-EBM in 1969. JT purchased it from the estat
50 Jfk747: There is nothing wrong with JT is doing. Infact I am doing a similar thing. I have been taking Boeing 727-200 and 747-200/300 training, infact i am f
51 Hkgspotter1: Please confirm this info from Bill Harms site is wrong. You will see that N124KK is going to Corsair. 21253 293 B747SP-44 JT9D-7F F-GTOM, ZS-SPD, CN-R
52 Jfk747: I bought it for around $13 million and am leasing it... if i may add.
53 TG992: I hate to cast a dampener on things but.. Has anyone considered that a world-famous movie star piloting an airliner on a mission to restore the Americ
54 Cx flyboy: jfk747, Do you work for an airline? What is the 747 for? Do you have any links to Mytravel that are going to fly Sweden to Phuket?
55 Hkgspotter1: .................or that wolly that was going to buy 44 L1011's
56 Stratofish: Just my thoughts Udo. To choose a scientlogy follower as an "ambassador" who goes on a friendship journey,... disgusting. Aussies: be careful of who i
57 Aussie_: Flew Qantas yesterday. The new July magazine has the cover adorned with JT and also the "Welcome to Qantas" spiel is from JT in full pilot's uniform s
58 Virgin744: I was just checking out what the latest pics of jets were, and stumbled across these beauties! Just go to Yahoo.com, click on the Full Coverage link a
Sponsor Message: 
From Australia, joined Dec 2000, 1702 posts, 
From United States, joined Oct 1999, 5127 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Hong Kong SAR, PRC, joined Nov 2005, 0 posts, 
From Malaysia, joined Apr 2000, 3248 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2001, 339 posts, 
From New Zealand, joined Oct 2001, 96 posts, 
From Germany, joined Dec 1999, 6913 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
