Travel companies go back to risque adverts to boost sales

MELBOURNE - Travel companies are back to featuring risque adverts as they are being hit by the economic downturn and the competition.

According to the Wall Street Journal, airlines are the main offenders, as highlighted by Air France’s current advertising campaign.

Featuring a blonde model wearing only a corset with the strings appearing to be loosened by a tiny plane taking off.

And most of the real-life Cathay Pacific flight attendants that appear in the airline’s recent campaign, launched earlier this year, are attractive young Asian women posing in revealing outfits.

Add to the mix ads by numerous other airlines this year including Russian airline Avianova, which featured bikini-clad women washing planes, and Aeroflot’s calendar showing a flight attendant posing completely nude.

Not to forget UK airline Ryanair’s numerous raunchy calendars and Spirit Airlines’ controversial ad featuring oil-drenched women in bikinis.

There was a time when hot pants were a common marketing tool, until the 70’s ended.

Now it seems there has been a revival in sexy advertisements in the travel industry - even luggage company Samsonite has resorted to using images of a woman in a mini-skirt and high-heels to sell products.

The Flight Attendants Association of Australia has warned against a revival in sexy campaigns, that these erotic advertisements put cabin crew at risk of sexual harassment and abuse.

“This type of provocative advertising using cabin crew in this light is not tolerated in Australia and should not be acceptable anywhere else,” News.com.au quoted Secretary Jo-Ann Davidson as saying. (ANI)