Flight attendants protest AirTran swimsuit plane

AJC ^ | March 2, 2010 | Kelly Yamanouchi

[NCjim]

A revealing image on the runway has some AirTran Airways flight attendants fuming.

Orlando-based AirTran, which has its largest hub in Atlanta, has adorned one of its Boeing 737 jets with the image of a swimsuit-clad woman in heels, as part of a partnership with Sports Illustrated for the magazine's swimsuit edition.

The promotion is ending and AirTran will remove the image from the plane soon, spokesman Christopher White said.

The AJC has learned that the Association of Flight Attendants at AirTran voiced its objections in a message to members.

"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," the union said, adding that it "creates a potential for verbal abuse by male passengers."

White insisted the airline's swimsuit decal is "subdued and classy," in a World War II pinup style.

"We have the highest respect for all of our crew members, male and female," White said. "We also 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."

Last year when Dallas-based Southwest Airlines had the partnership for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, it put a giant picture of a lounging model in a bikini on one of its planes. Southwest and other carriers like Spirit Airlines have a history of using risque marketing tactics, from revealing flight attendant uniforms in the past to racy references in advertising campaigns today.

Patricia Friend, international president of the Washington-based Association of Flight Attendants, plans to send a letter to AirTran management on the swimsuit plane, spokeswoman Corey Caldwell told the AJC.

"As a union, we have fought hard and we have come a long way to bridge the gender discrimination gap," Caldwell said. She said a marketing campaign that features any "lewdness" is "a step backward in this progress."

[NCjim]

Photo here -

http://www.ajc.com/multimedia/dynamic/00432/fp-airtran_432770c.jpg

[Mr. K]

I like it!!

[MrEdd]

In before all the WWII bomber pictures.

[Mr. K]

I dont see what the complaint is about

[MIchaelTArchangel]

I loved the good old days better...when Delta only had female flight attendants who were in shape and wore hot pants.

[Broker]

another example of tyranny from the minority. Pretty girls and sleek airplanes really annoy the mules south end. Especially butch PC Union Stews.

[AFreeBird]

I dont see what the complaint is about

The Stews don't look that good.

[Hoodat]

[Mr. Jeeves]

"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," the union said, adding that it "creates a potential for verbal abuse by male passengers."

Yes, because verbally abusive men always remain silent when there are no images of attractive women around to remind them how flight attendants used to look. :)

[GunningForTheBuddha]

Hollywierd should make a movie about all of the complainers - “Field of Cankles”

[dalereed]

eliminate the east coast uptight airlines and bring back PSA!!!!!

[ConservativeStatement]

Cue up: Hey, Jealousy.

[thesharkboy]

In before all the WWII bomber pictures.

The first one--my uncle's B-24:

[Mobties]

In other news, Air Tran stock gained 2 cents today (0.4%) following a 5.4% gain in February traffic.

[hsalaw]

Probably jealous that they don’t look like that in a swimsuit.

[A message]

adding that it "creates a potential for verbal abuse by male passengers."

I viewed the picture at the link and all I can think is oh the horrors, oh the verbal abuse, oh my gosh get a life Association of Flight Attendants.

Another example that Unions cause far more harm than good.

[saganite]

Good grief. What a bunch of whiners. It actually looks more like WWII nose art. Not terribly daring or demeaning.

[RedDogzRule]

Since many attendants are now gay dudes, the next logical step is that horrid picture of Borat in that man-thong. Yeccchhh.

[Realman30]

"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," the union said, adding that it "creates a potential for verbal abuse by male passengers."

This isn't a PC paragraph. This should be included in the last sentence: "Creates a potential for verbal abuse by male and lesbians passengers."

This image, along with a couple of drinks, could cause Ellen DeGeneres, Rosie O'Donnell and their ilk to get a rise in their jeans and make them grab a few arses during the flight. We can't have that.

[PhiloBedo]

Works for me! If I could just get the boss to put this on his ship.