Air New Zealand’s controversial safety video featuring bikini-clad models is off the air – but the national carrier says it was nothing to do with public pressure.

The Sports Illustrated 50th anniversary in-flight safety demonstration, set in the Cook Islands, was released in February with Air New Zealand fielding criticism that the video was sexist.

An online petition demanding the safety video be removed was started by a Melbourne woman recently and has attracted more than 5600 signatures.

The petitioner said the video made women uncomfortable, including staff members.

''A safety video is to alert passengers on what to do in an emergency; it should not be an excuse to objectify the sexualised female body.'' 

An Air New Zealand spokesperson said the safety videos are scheduled, the Sport Illustrated video had reached the end of its run and was gradually being phased out of the aircrafts it was used on.

It was not prompted by public pressure, she said.

Air New Zealand passengers on a flight from Wellington to Auckland this morning were shown a previous safety video, featuring Bear Grylls.

- Stuff

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