Airline apologises for promoting Twelfth

[never kickt a ball]

Airline apologises for promoting Twelfth

EasyJet has apologised to a blogger from Northern Ireland who complained about the airline's in-flight magazine promoting Twelfth of July parades to tourists.

Published 05/08/2015 01:22

Writing online, Sammy McNally recalled browsing through the easyJet Traveller on a flight out of Split in Croatia.

The monthly magazine regularly picks a number of destinations and features things to do or see.

The July edition informed readers about the "hundreds of colourful parades across Northern Ireland" to commemorate the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

In his blog post on the issue, Mr McNally wrote: "I couldn't help but ponder if easyJet also covered other 'festivals' which both 'celebrated' and exacerbated ethnic tensions.

"Perhaps August's or September's monthly issues covered 'celebrations of culture' when perhaps ethnic tensions between Serbs and Croats reaches a crescendo and tourists can enjoy the spectacle of thousands of police officers on the streets ..."

Mr McNally further added: "To be fair to easyJet, there was a coded message which they implanted at the end of their promo piece which stated: 'Just check ahead for travel disruptions and advice ...'"

He speculated this was perhaps an attempt to "cover themselves in case of complaint from travellers" and added that they should have warned people not to get caught in a "sectarian riot".

Having claimed that "40% of people in Northern Ireland" wouldn't agree that the parades were great to watch and that many tourists wouldn't either, Mr McNally later provided a response from easyJet.

"We rely on an external network of writers based in each of our destinations ... it's their expertise and on-the-ground knowledge that makes the content of our guides so useful."
easyJet

According to the blogger, they replied to his email of complaint to explain that the destination guides were written by an "external network of writers" who are "always locally based and respected journalists in their community".

Communication attributed to an airline executive added: "In this instance, the author of our Belfast guide felt the event's inclusion was of cultural interest to our readers, however, we understand the sensitivities around the event – not least the activities that take place away from the parades and can only apologise for it not being spotted at our normally rigorous editorial sign off."

Mr McNally responded to further ask if future editions of the in-flight magazine would include such recommendations regarding the Twelfth.

The airline executive replied simply: "I can confirm that we will not be including such recommendations in future."

When contacted by UTV, easyJet reiterated the statement made to Mr McNally without adding further comment.

"It would be an extremely bland and unappealing tourism guide - not just for Northern Ireland, but anywhere in the world - which would only include events to which no blogger might object."
William Humphrey, DUP

DUP North Belfast MLA William Humphrey has branded easyJet's response "an outrageous overreaction to one complaint from a blogger".

He says he is working with the Orange Order to request an explanation from the airline over their apology, which he says has caused "great offence to many people".

Mr Humphrey said: "Customers of easyJet may take some heart from the fact it appears that any complaint raised by a single customer appears to receive such immediate and decisive action from the company.

"What remains to be seen is whether action is taken equally quickly when easyJet lose someone's bags or their flight is delayed, rather than a decision to airbrush out one of the largest cultural festivals held anywhere in the United Kingdom."

He added: "We can only assume that easyJet's policy in relation to Twelfth of July parades does not include a refusal to accept the fares of those wishing to travel to Northern Ireland to watch the celebrations."

The journalist who wrote the feature piece has shown UTV the original copy which he sent to EasyJet for publication.

He claimed that a sub-editor had inserted the phrase saying the parades were "great to watch" and that they also left out information he included on the Gaeltacht.

PIC: The easyJet Traveller promoted the Twelfth of July to tourists.

© UTV 2015

[muppet]

Did they name the 'locally based and respected journalist'?

[BennyCake]

Easyjet is the proper sponsor for the twelfth, as they're a shower of b**tards too. Oh, and they're orange.

[T Fearon]

Stelios says no

[Farrandeelin]

It's a pity RTÉ wouldn't apologise for allowing them ads for the Orange museums on national tv.

[thejuice]

EasyJet, and for that matter everyone, would be better off refraining from talking about Northern Ireland ever again. Life is just easier that way. There is no end to the amount of dipshits you could upset.

[Itchy]

The almighty Tony Fearon once declared himself upset by a post in a thread and the mods wiped the whole thread. Maybe gaaboard is moderated by  easyjet or maybe Tony Fearon is the blogger. Anyway, I once complained to easyjet that one of their super camp happy little helpers was sickeningly arse and they didn't fire him out the plane door at 20k feet as I had suggested so the DUP are right about these double standards

[Apparently so]

Easyjet and the OO are one of the same imo

[BennyCake]

Easyjet and the OO are one of the same imo

Sainsburys too.

[Apparently so]

Absolutely. Those B&Q bastards as well. They think we cant see but we f**king can ffs

[screenexile]

Absolutely. Those B&Q b**tards as well. They think we cant see but we f**king can ffs

f**king tangerines and satsuma's taking the piss along with the rest!!

Willie Frazer is going to keep an eye on Easyjets in flight magazine to make sure they don't promote anything to do with the terrorist GAA!!