An airline has produced an in-flight safety video showing a pilot and cabin crew wearing nothing but body paint.

Air New Zealand hopes the film will ensure even the most jaded flyers pay close attention to safety briefings.

The video has notched up more than two million hits on YouTube and shows the pilot and crew wearing body paint to resemble their normal uniforms.

As the crew show passengers what to do in the event of an emergency, their private parts are obscured by well-placed oxygen masks, life jackets, seat belts and luggage.

The 3-minute, 28-second 'Bare essentials of safety' clip, and a similar 45-second TV ad, have reportedly had passengers glued to their mini television sets.

Each clip took one day to shoot and cost about 10 to 15% of the cost of a major brand commercial, an airline spokesman told the New York Times.

However, for the crew members involved, it was a labour of love. They got no extra cash - just a moment in the limelight.