British Airways Interrupts Historical Moments with New Onboard Safety Video

May we haveth one’s attention please? British Airways premieres its brand-new onboard safety video, 'A British Original Period Drama' inspired by some of Britain’s famous period literature, TV and film and starring more than 40 of the airline’s colleagues.

The airline plans to refresh its films on a regular basis to keep customers engaged in the important safety messages being delivered. Knowing the popularity of British dramas overseas, the airline chose this genre to resonate with its global audiences while delivering those vital safety messages.

The film cleverly shows ladies and lords of the manor, as well as housekeepers and butlers going about their everyday lives in period Britain, before being abruptly interrupted by present day British Airways colleagues demonstrating the safety briefing.

At one point in the film a 19th century socialite marvels at a moving picture, more commonly known in the 21st century as a laptop, before being reminded to store personal electronic devices before take-off.

The characters continue to be bewildered by modern day contraptions, and when posed with the question “Is it a winged creature of the air or, perchance, a celestial contrivance navigating the skies?” Ellis Brett, an Apprentice in Aircraft Maintenance, responds with “No, ma’am. That’s a British Airways A350.”

Keeping colleagues at the heart of its campaigns, the video features more than 40 colleagues from across the airline, from pilots and cabin crew to engineers and airport colleagues, who play themselves in the film, as well as period drama characters.

When it came to location, the airline selected grand British country estates, including Hatfield House in Hertfordshire and Englefield House Estate in Berkshire to shoot its safety video.

Sharon Maguire, most widely known for her work on Bridget Jones’s Diary and Bridget Jones’s Baby, was chosen to direct the five-minute video because of her ability to demonstrate British comedy in a way that would engage with the airline’s customers.

Calum Laming, British Airways’ chief customer officer, said, “We know that these videos deliver vital safety information, and it is so important that we keep our customers engaged, so we have created a video that captures the audience’s attention, using humour to do so. Of course, we’ve always said it’s our people who make us who we are and we are so proud to feature more than 40 colleagues as the stars of this film. With the help of our incredible people in front of, and behind, the cameras, we believe we’ve created something really original and entertaining that celebrates what makes Britain - and British Airways - unique while communicating the importance of safety on board.”

Sharon Maguire, the renowned British director of the safety video said, “We put together a dream team of industry legends, from Jenny Beavan to Kave Quinn and Erik Wilson to Jack Ravenscroft. We definitely wouldn’t have pulled it off without them. They just loved the idea created by the talented and lovely creative teams at Uncommon and British Airways. Even though it felt like six shoot days crammed into three, we got some really excellent performances from all the cast, most of whom were BA staff.”

Helen Lau, a British Airways First Officer who plays herself, said, “As a First Officer, my job means I am in the flight deck during the safety briefing, so to know that I will be appearing on the video in the cabins feels very surreal. I love the closing line which says stay safe, look after one another and never change, which featured in the previous video and I hope is carried onto the next. It’s such a touching and uniting phrase.”

In a nod to other British talent, the costumes worn by colleagues and actors throughout the video were designed by three-time Oscar winning British costume designer Jenny Beavan. Colleagues also worked with renowned dialect coach, Jill McCullough, to perfect their accents.

Customers flying with British Airways can enjoy menus featuring the best of British cuisine, inflight entertainment starring British talent, and products designed by British suppliers.