Ryanair’s has scrapped its controversial cabin crew bikini calendar as the company looks to project a more “family-friendly” image.
The budget airline said that its charity calendar, which debuted in 2008 and features 12 flight attendants in various states of undress, raised more than €100,000 each year for charities such the UK Teenage Cancer Trust.
An online petition against the “sexist” marketing of the calendar gained thousands of signatures in 2011, and the advertising was eventually banned as “demeaning” by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). Despite the backlash, the calendar remained popular with customers, with 99% of customers surveyed reporting to be in support of the women-only calendar.
However, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary hinted that it was no longer in keeping with the companies refreshed “family friendly” image in an interview with Irish Radio station Today FM.
The airline said that its new charity options for 2015 “will be unveiled soon”.
Meanwhile, Ryanair also announced that it carried 8.5 million passengers in September, a five percent increase on the previous year.
