Row over Ryanair ad
26.07.08
The Italian Government has accused Ryanair of employing a ‘vulgar and offensive’ ad against rival Alitalia. The ad makes it look as if an Italian cabinet minister is giving passengers the finger. It uses a now-infamous photo of Reforms Minister Umberto Bossi, who made headlines this week for using the obscene gesture in public.
‘Minister Bossi to Italian passengers,’ the add begins, as if Bossi were addressing them. It continues: ‘The Government ... supports Alitalia's high fares, supports Alitalia's frequent strikes, doesn't give a damn about Italian passengers’. It then shows the 'finger' picture.
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government, which is working on a rescue plan to save Alitalia from bankruptcy, was enraged. Officials demanded an apology from the budget airline. One said: ‘This airline that operates at our airports and in our skies should apologise - not just to Minister Bossi but to the Italians'
The ad can be viewed at: www.ryanair.com/site/IT/?culture=IT
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