Air New Zealand
plans "Pink Flight" to Mardi Gras

Air New Zealand is hoping to woo the gay market with a special themed flight that will feature drag queens, pink cocktails, and a cabaret performed by the flight crew.

The destination for the airline's one-time ''Pink Flight,'' scheduled to depart San Francisco International Airport on February 26, is the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney, one of the world's most well-attended gay events, said Jodi Williams, an Air New Zealand marketing director.

''We are looking at tailoring the in-seat entertainment and having gay-friendly movies and contests and different music and things like that,'' Williams said. The airline also plans to throw a ''Get Onboard, Girlfriend'' going-away party for its passengers, who will pay an average of $1,000 round-trip.

The flight will be modeled after an Auckland-to-Sydney trip Air New Zealand made this year for the gay Mardi Gras, according to Williams. Before that full flight, the crew put on pink feather boas and sang for its 200-plus passengers, she said.

''Even the pilot was wearing fairy wings and got into it,'' Williams said.

Since it takes 14 hours to get from San Francisco to Sydney, the airline also plans to schedule some downtime during the overnight flight.

''We had to think about keeping people entertained while knowing they will want their beauty sleep,'' she said. (AP)