Watchdog gives Ryanair free publicity after banning ‘Raunchy’ ad

An advertising watchdog has played right into 'budget airline' Ryanair's hands and banned its raunchy advert.

The fairly tame, but fairly sexist advert, shows a Ryanair stewardess in her lingerie with the headline "Red hot fares and crew". The pouting babe, Ornella, is featured in the airline's annual calendar of air hostesses as Miss February.

We've included the advert just so you can feel suitably outraged

The move by British Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) plays right into the hands of the company and has no doubt netted them more publicity through the white noise around the banning.

There were 17 complaints about the advert to the ASA, which concluded it was likely to cause 'widespread offence'.

The report concluded: "Most readers would interpret these images, in conjunction with the text 'Red hot fares & crew!!!' and the names of the women, as linking female cabin crew with sexually suggestive behaviour.

"Although we acknowledged that the women in the ads had consented to appear in the calendar, we considered that the ads were likely to cause widespread offence, when displayed in a national newspaper."

We can only presume Michael O'Leary and his advertising people and sitting back rubbing their hands with glee at all the free advertising. Talk about a counterproductive move.