Air New Zealand on Saturday launched a new Hobbit-themed aircraft in celebration of the much anticipated release of film The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. A Boeing 777-300ER now shows an imposing picture of Gandalf and a backdrop of the Peter Jackson film, to premiere in Wellington next week. It took the team 400 hours to install the graphic at 830 sq meters, the largest ever applied to an aircraft. The 73-meter Boeing, the longest in the airline\'s fleet, is now off to London via Los Angeles, It will return in time to play a \" starring role\" in the global premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on Wednesday. Air New Zealand Chief Executive Rob Fyfe said at Auckalnd Airport on Saturday that the effort and passion that had gone into the aircraft reflected \"a real sense of connection that we have with the magical world of the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit\". The airline has dubbed itself the \"Airline of Middle Earth\". He said another Hobbit-inspired Boeing 777 would be unveiled in November next year ahead of the second Hobbit movie.