Airline Pinups Lead to Complaints

The budget air carrier Ryanair has published a charity calendar which displays glossy photos of scantily-clad female airline employees. With receipts destined for a homeless charity, the Ryanair Cabin Crew Charity Calendar raised more than 70,000 euros last year.

  
Example photos from the Ryanair Cabin Crew Charity Calendar
According to a spokesman, the colorful 2009 edition was shot in Spain and it "should sell like hotcakes" but a controversy has surfaced.

The Institute for Women in Spain is considering legal action and intends to complain to Irish and EU authorities that the publication is sexist as it only features female models.

In a statement, it said: 'It is significant that only women are used, in a sector in which there is a considerable percentage of men.'

Spokesman María Jesús Ortiz claimed the images presented the women as 'sexual objects.'

'We're not talking about morals or nudity here, it's simply how women are portrayed,' she said.

'If there had been men in the calendar I'm sure there would have been no controversy.'

The Institute became involved after a complaint from consumer group FACUA, which claimed the images promoted macho behaviour.

[Note: FACUA is the Association of Consumers and Users in Action based in Seville, Spain. FACUA enjoys prominent media influence functioning as a consumer watchdog.]

For those who believe in promoting macho behavior, the calendar is available from Ryanair.com.

Tip: Charley Nestor