Does having more routes and flights mean more bad ad campaigns?
The airline industry has really taken off over the years. Every other day we see a new airline pop up and competition is no doubt heating up. With the aviation industry fast cluttering up, brands in the space are quickly trying to stand out. Here are some airline brands that stood out, but probably for the wrong reasons.
1.ANA
Just this week, Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA) had to pull down an ad which was accused of racial stereotyping. The carrier, while apologetic, said the ad was intended to be a humorous. While the did take a jab at the Caucasian passengers, I found the ad to be more bizarre then racist.
Take a look at the ad:
http://youtu.be/2jgzAOCmWA0
2.Turkish Airline
Remember Turkish airline and its ad campaign last year which depicted that Asians travel on flying dragons? The airline launched its latest campaign promoting its flights to various destinations in America, Europe, Africa and “The Far East”. While the first three ads depicted the various iconic structures such as the Statue of Liberty or the heads of mummies or Spanish dancers, for “The Far East” creative had pictures of the Hindu gods and various other religious figures were placed in a line. And, while the rest of the photos had a Turkish Airline in the backdrop, Asia had dragons.
(Gallery available on web)
While we are on the topic of bad ads, Turkish Airline bagged another. According to flight.org, the photograph was spotted in Muscat Airport and the ad was put up under misunderstood instructions . The other side of the escalator also has the same image with the flight going upwards.
Photo courtesy: http://www.flight.org/blog/2010/02/06/terrible-turkish-airlines-advertisement/
3. Ryan Air
European airline Ryan Air copped a fair bit of flak for its 'sexist adverts'. These ads which ran in UK were banned from news papers and according to BBC, The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA received 17 complaints on the ad. The adverts with scantily clad women in undergarments promoted flights for £9.99 and ran with the headline "Red Hot Fares & Crew! One way from £9.99". Meanwhile the airline’s spokesperson also said that the ads images were taken from a charity calendar where cabin crew members posed in.
Wow, Ryan Air might just be Hugh Hefner’s personal Batmobile.
(Gallery available on web)
(Photo courtesy: BBC and http://www.pocketinfo.net)
4. TAM
I chanced upon this ad sometime back. Probably around the holiday season when a certain well known festive roasted bird (otherwise known as Turkey) was on my mind. TAM Airlines, the Brazilian brand of LATAM Airlines Group, created this ad with the help of Y&R to promote seat that recline 180 degrees.
Honestly, I don't think a reformed bird was the way to go. The ad is in not aesthetically pleasing and it also ruined my appetite for the Christmas turkey.
(Gallery available on web)
(Photo courtesy: Ads of the world)
5. AirAsia
Last year, AirAsia launched the "AirAsia X Morning Face Premium Instagram" contests. The campaign ran for two weeks in July and asked participants to send in pictures of themselves sleeping. While I give the airline props for the refreshing new idea, people drooling on seats might not always be the best way to attract customers.
