Islamabad: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has sparked row with its latest advertising campaign, which was intended to celebrate the airline’s resumption of direct flights to Paris. The ad, shared on January 10, featured a graphic design showing a PIA aircraft flying in the direction of the Eiffel Tower.
However, many social media users pointed out that the image closely resembled a 1979 advertisement that depicted an aircraft’s shadow over the Twin Towers, the site of September 11 attacks in 2001.
How social media users reacted
People expressed their disgust over the insensitivity of the design. Social media users voiced their disapproval, with some commenting that the ad looked more like a threat than a promotion.
Many felt the image was inappropriate, especially given the lasting impact of the 9/11 attacks, which remain a sensitive topic for millions around the world.
This incident overshadowed the airline’s attempts to mark the resumption of direct flights to Paris, after a four-year suspension due to a European Union ban on PIA over safety concerns.
The return of PIA to Paris was highly anticipated, but the negative reaction to the ad has drawn attention away from this milestone.
