STANSTED Airport’s biggest airline is at the centre of a new sexism row after a campaigner claiming to be a female cabin crew member called for an advertising ban.
The stewardess, identified only as Ghada, has set up an online petition in protest at the Irish low-cost carrier’s latest promotion featuring a picture of a woman in her underwear with a finger in her knickers.
More than 7,000 signatories have backed her ‘Cabin crew against Sexism’ plea to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) about the ‘Red hot fares & crew’ advert.
She said: "I’m a member of cabin crew. I love my job and take it seriously, so I was disgusted to see this Ryanair ad … which basically portrays cabin crew as glamour models.
"My work colleagues, many of whom are male, work hard with me to ensure the safety of our passengers. Safety is our number one priority, not the brand of our underwear."
The ASA is investigating the ad but has not given a timeframe for a decision.
Ryanair has attracted criticism in the past for 'sexist' advertising. In 2008, its advert of a young woman posing as a schoolgirl was banned by the ASA, which described it as "irresponsible" and appearing to link teenage girls with sexually provocative behaviour.
In 2010, Mary Honeyball MEP described Ryanair as "still plane stupid" for publishing its fourth charity calendar featuring female cabin crew posing in bikinis. The company’s latest year planner featuring scantily-clad staff is on sale.
A spokesman for Ryanair said: "This proves only that there are 7,000 prudes but thankfully there are 10,000 charitable people who have bought the calendar each year, raising €500,000 for charity."
