Nok Air Sexy Video Stirs Controversy

18th Feb 2013

The promotional video, according to Nok Air, is an online campaign promoting the airline's 2013 calendar which they will give away to its customers. There seems to be nothing unusual in the calendar except that it shows scantily-clad models posing seductively against a Nok Air plane.

The airline's Facebook page was swarmed with mixed reactions, some are obviously enjoying the video while there are a good proportion who didn't share the same sentiment.

Clearly, the video of the sexy calendars has put Nok Air in a controversy, yet again, following another controversy in 2011 when its CEO, Patee Sarasin, made headlines for his statements regarding the airline's preference for young girls as flight attendants over aging women.

He defended his statements by saying that the idea of hiring young attendants for their planes didn't discriminate older ones. He added that the policy was in line with the airline's marketing effort to rejuvenate its brand image.

In the recent controversy, Mr. Patee said he was not surprised with the government's response to the video, especially from the Ministry of Culture.

Prisana Pongtatpitakkul, the (Ministry's) Permanent Secretary, expectedly, was not happy with Nok Air's latest media stunt. She accused the airline of exploiting woman's image as a marketing tool to further its own interest. She added that the racy photos in the calendar were not only inappropriate for an airline's marketing campaign but also demonstrates the company's lack of social and cultural responsibility, unmindful of the repercussions that it might bring to the country's image, especially Thai women.

Unfortunately, she admitted that the Ministry cannot take action against the airline in the distribution of the calendar as it sees no violation was made.

Despite the criticisms, Mr. Patee is not planning to cancel its distribution. He was even very proud to admit that the demand for the calendar was overwhelming, saying that more and more people are requesting for more copies.

The Culture Minister was worried about the impact of the video on Thai women. She said that many foreigners already have negative attitude towards Thai women and the video, she fears, will further ruin their image.

While many people don't take offence, there are as many people who feel insulted accusing the airline that it is portraying Thai women as sex commodities for its own benefits.

Mr. Patee, in his defense to the video, said that the pictures are tastefully shot and that their appearance on the calendar enhances their (models) image in a professional manner with a reputable company.

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