Flying The Too Friendly Skies? AirTran Ending SI Swimsuit Promo

AirTran Flight Attendants Have Objected To Image Used In Promotion Of SI Swimsuit Issue

AirTran is ending its promotion of the SI Swimsuit Issue that included putting the image of a "swimsuit-clad woman in heels" on one of its planes, but not before AirTran's chapter of the Association of Flight Attendants "voiced its objection" to the image, according to Kelly Yamanouchi of the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION. The association in a message to its members said of the image, "It is our feeling that this is not only contrary to the family image that this company tries to promote, but also potentially offensive to their female employees, the majority of their flight attendants who will have to work on this aircraft." AirTran Dir of PR Christopher White said that the airline would "remove the image from the plane soon." However, he "insisted the airline's swimsuit decal is 'subdued and classy,' in a World War II pinup style." White: "We ... went to great lengths to ensure that the image that we put on the side of our planes was very tastefully done and very much a family-friendly image." Yamanouchi notes Southwest Airlines "had the partnership for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue" last year, and it "put a giant picture of a lounging model in a bikini on one of its planes" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 3/3).