25 JUNE 2002
Swordfish star John Travolta was presented with a new set of wings on Monday after qualifying as a first officer for Qantas, after which the Hollywood star unveiled plans to pilot a jet on a worldwide goodwill tour to promote air travel.

John, an avid pilot and self-professed “airline geek”, said he wanted to reach across continents with friendship after the attacks on the US on September 11. The actor successfully completed 747-400 First Officer simulator training with Qantas and at Boeing’s headquarters in Seattle, and has been officially named the Aussie airline’s “ambassador-at-large”.

He called the moment “one of the proudest days of my life”, after being presented with his golden wings by Qantas Chief Executive Officer Geoff Dixon. “Without crying here, I would say it’s at least alongside the two Oscar nominations I’ve received in my career. It’s right up there with that,” he said.

The 48-year-old actor, who began flying at age 16, will set out from Los Angeles on July 1 in his vintage Boeing 707 for the ten-nation Spirit Of Friendship tour which will stop first in Auckland, New Zealand. “I’m undertaking this tour to extend the hand of friendship – to reach out, to cross borders, make contact, rekindle friendships and make new friends,” he said.

Other destinations will include Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, London, Rome, Paris, Frankfurt and New York.