Sparks fly over 'sexy' Ryanair calendar
Ryanair cabin crew at the launch of the 2010 Ryanair Cabin Crew Charity Calendar. Photo: Getty Images
More photos:Thursday November 12 2009
RYANAIR was accused last night of a "serious lack of imagination" after the airline insisted its 2010 cabin crew calendar was "art".
The new calendar, featuring two Irish employees, is more risque than previous editions.
The National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI) said the no-frills carrier was "irredeemably old-fashioned" for using images of scantily clad women to raise funds for charity. But Ryanair accused the NWCI of not having "a clue how young women empower themselves".
The project has proved to be a massive cash cow for charities in its first two years and is aiming to raise €110,000 in 2010 for the UK organisation for disabled children, Kids.
"What we have is one step up from last year which makes it a little bit sexier," spokesman Stephen McNamara said at the launch in London yesterday.
However, NWCI director Susan McKay said: "It shows a serious lack of imagination presenting women as sex objects."
Two Dublin employees were selected from 50 Irish applicants for this year's photoshoot in Alicante, Spain. Frances McQuillan (26), from Baldoyle, and Elaine Brien (25), from Blanchardstown, both of whom work in the Dublin office, were selected for the months of April and June respectively. "I got a lot of support from colleagues in work who recommended that I do it so I thought I would give it a shot," said Ms McQuillan.
Kids chief executive Kevin Williams said they had given the calendar's controversial nature consideration before agreeing to partner Ryanair. "But we were encouraged by the fact that all the young women are volunteers."
- Stephen O'Farrell
Irish Independent
