The Kiwi airline launched it's latest in-flight safety video in February this year with the help of four Sports Illustrated swimsuit models.
The video includes helpful in-flight safety instructions like this from US bikini model Hannah Davis.
It also includes a cameo from 60-year-old US model Christie Brinkley who is told to get off the line BECAUSE THEY'RE ABOUT TO TAKE-OFF!
It sparked online backlash from Australian woman Natasha Young who launched an online petition against the in-flight safety message. The petition has garnered more than 10,000 signatures
There were those that rallied around the petition's message that the video was sexist, culturally insensitive and in one person's words, not a safety video but "wank fodder".
There were also people who thought the video was creative and everyone should quit being wowsers.
Air New Zealand are known for innovative/creative in-flight safety videos and it's not the first time its reverted to sex to sell safety. In 2009, airline staff donned body-paint to explain the safety essentials.
A spokeswoman for Air New Zealand has told BuzzFeedOz the video was not pulled due to the online backlash and it always intended to remove the Sports Illustrated video from its rotation.