Snakes on a plane was so 2006. What's in now? Smaug on a plane.
Air New Zealand on Monday revealed that Smaug, the destructive fire-breathing dragon of both The Hobbit novel and upcoming film, is plastered on one of its planes in Auckland.
The news comes just days before Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, this winter's follow-up to 2012's An Unexpected Journey, arrives in theaters on Dec. 13.
See also: Peter Jackson Unleashes New Ed Sheeran Song for 'The Hobbit' Sequel
The airline put Smaug on both sides of a Boeing 777-300 aircraft. Weta Digital, Jackson's visual effects company, designed the 177-foot dragon graphic for Air New Zealand.

"Capturing Smaug’s presence and the amazing detail in his design while accommodating the windows, doors and wing shape was quite a different experience for us,” Eric Saindon, visual effects supervisor of Weta Digital, said in a statement. "It was great to see Smaug brought to life, and he appears even larger in the film."
In the new movie, Smaug calls Lonely Mountain home, where a treasure trove of gold awaits anyone who dares challenge his fiery guard. Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf and 13 dwarves will try to take back the mountain as they continue their journey to reclaim the dwarf kingdom Erebor.
Last year, for An Unexpected Journey, Air New Zealand featured the film's characters on another Boeing 777-300. This year, the Smaug-inspired plane will fly to Los Angeles on Monday night for the movie's premiere. The airline released a Hobbit-themed promotional video (below) a few weeks ago to coincide with the premiere.

Jackson filmed the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit films in New Zealand, inspiring the airline's tagline featured in the first video. The voiceover concludes, "Middle Earth: It's closer than you think."
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BONUS: Trailer for 'The Hobbit' Sequel Reveals Smaug's Terrifying Voice

Image: Air New Zealand