Livery of the Week: Air New Zealand’s ‘Hobbit’

This special paint scheme was inspired by a film series.

An Air New Zealand 777-300ER in a special livery (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

[ Livery of the Week ]January 3, 2025 1:58 pm ET

By Ryan Ewing

Editor’s Note: AirlineGeeks is proud to present our ‘Livery of the Week’ series. Every Friday, a team member will share an airline livery, which can be from the past, present, or even a special scheme. Some airline liveries are works of art. The complexity associated with painting around critical flight components and the added weight requires outside-the-box thinking from designers. The average airliner can cost upwards of $200,000 to repaint, creating a separate aircraft repainting industry as a result.

Have an idea for a livery that we should highlight? Drop us a line.

Air New Zealand, the flag carrier airline of New Zealand, has a history of creating eye-catching aircraft liveries. Among the most memorable are those inspired by “The Hobbit” film series, which was filmed in New Zealand.

The airline’s first foray into Middle-earth-themed aircraft was in 2002 with a Lord of the Rings livery. However, it was the Hobbit-themed liveries that gained widespread attention.

Later, to coincide with the release of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” Air New Zealand unveiled a Boeing 777-300ER featuring a large image of the dragon Smaug on its fuselage. This design also included other characters and scenes from the film.

Another Boeing 777-300ER was adorned with a new Hobbit livery, this time showcasing characters such as Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the Grey. This design was created to celebrate the release of “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.”

Looking for a new airplane model? Head over to our friends at the Midwest Model Store for a wide selection of airlines and liveries.

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Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

Follow Ryan

Author

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.
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