Qantas “Sand Plane”

Qantas suspended flights from Sydney to Australia’s Gold oast in 2008, making way for its low-cost carrier Jetstar. However, facing competition from upscale rival, Virgin Australia, Qantas restarted the service in October 2012.

In a publicity stunt to promote its return to the Gold Coast, Qantas built a life size sand sculpturereplica of the interior of a B737-800 in the middle of Sydney's Circular Quay. The ‘sand plane’ comes complete with a flight deck, six rows of seats, a pilot and passengers. The sand sculpture also features sand versions of national TV weatherman Steve Jacobs and Dame Edna.Visitors were invited to sit on one of the sand seats to have their picture taken.(More images here.)

To promote the route online, Qantas also offered its Facebook fans the chance to win one of ten return economy flights for two to the Gold Coast, by uploading a picture to the carrier's ‘Head _in the Sand’ Facebook app and answering, in 25 words or less, “why they would like to go the Gold Coast on their next holiday.”