2012/02/15/the-guardian-should-not-have-accepted-ryanair-sexist-adverts/ London MEP European Parliament Tue, 01 Mar 2016 16:58:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ 2012/02/15/the-guardian-should-not-have-accepted-ryanair-sexist-adverts/#comment-5958 Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:09:53 +0000 ?p=16698#comment-5958 Ryanair generate lots of column inches with their controversial ads, then more when they are banned, all the while calling the advertising watchdog ‘idiots’ (see http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/news/1119613/Ryanair-boss-OLeary-hits-back-ASA-idiots/). If we can’t actually block the adverts at source (by getting newspapers to refuse them), perhaps we should all stop writing about them!

]]> 2012/02/15/the-guardian-should-not-have-accepted-ryanair-sexist-adverts/#comment-5839 Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:25:48 +0000 ?p=16698#comment-5839 Some years ago, Southwest Airlines (USA) tried the same type of sexist ploy in an effort to build its business commuter trade in Texas. It launched its “Fly Me” campaign with huge billboard ads featuring the company airplane logo merged with a woman’s body and with flight attendants in bright red hot pants and white go-go boots. The campaign drew more jeers than cheers from the flying public. After a woman took over as CEO, company promotions began to stress smart management, a top safety record, efficient schedules and fast, good humored service from crews in business-like uniforms. Southwest is now one of the top airlines in the US with routes spanning the country. Its recent expansion into the important Atlanta hub was celebrated with typical Southwest elan: http://www.blogsouthwest.com/ “Atlanta At Last” video.

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