Qatar Airways Debuts Quirky New Safety Video with Kevin Hart


A scene from Kevin Hart's new safety video for Qatar Airways

Skift Take

This big budget safety video from Qatar Airways is likely to reignite a long-running industry debate: What is the right balance between passenger engagement and clarity of messaging?

Qatar Airways’ new in-flight safety video just dropped, and it’s likely to divide opinion. The carrier has partnered with U.S. comedian and actor Kevin Hart who leads passengers through a pre-departure briefing with a twist. 

Described by the airline as “a safety video coming from the Hart,” it begins with Hart taking a phone call from the “Q Boss” - presumably the Qatar Airways Group CEO, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer.

In the first 30 seconds of the film, the pair critique traditional format safety videos. Hart describes them as “unimaginative, uninventive, and flat-out boring.” The conversation ends with the "Q Boss" issuing Hart with a mission to create the world’s greatest safety video and encouraging him to “use some of your Hollywood magic.”

What follows over the next seven minutes is a lively whirlwind of Hart-led skits across various international destinations. 

Mixing Core Messaging with Comedy