A budget airline has been censured by the Thai government after it released a racy calendar featuring models from a magazine.
Low-cost carrier Nok Air's calendar features models in different outfits posing around Nok Air planes, including a shot with 12 women in yellow bikinis -- the airline's signature colour.
But according to Thai media, the Ministry of Culture says the calendar demonstrates that some businesses refuse to stop using women's bodies as a marketing tool.
Permanent secretary, Prisana Pongtatpitakkul was quoted by The Nation saying: 'They lack the sense of social and cultural responsibility and ignore social and cultural repercussions - particularly female dignity.'
Nok Air has however defended the calendar, which features models from Maxim magazine, saying it has not 'crossed the line'.
'The airline business has always been seen as sexy,' Nok Air chief executive Patee Sarasin was quoted by CNN.
'Understanding the [Culture] Ministry, their reaction isn't really a surprise, however, given what the public is exposed to on a daily basis, we believe that we have not crossed the line,' he told CNN Travel.
'The airline business has always been seen as sexy globally, that is why our planes - we believe they are well designed - appropriately become the background of these models.
The Thai Ministry of Culture says the calendar demonstrates that some businesses refuse to stop using women's bodies as a marketing tool
Flying high: Budget airline Nok Air is known for his unconventional marketing tactics
'Most customers love the calendar and definitely want to own one,' he said. 'As of today, the calendar is becoming a hard-to-find commodity, and the requests for copies keep coming from all walks of life.
'The idea of keeping our attendants young is because we believe young girls, being new at their profession, would be more passionate in serving our customers because their focus is more on their career.
'We also aim to keep the airline young to meet our brand positioning.'
'We believe that the pictures posted are not ugly,' he said. '[This calendar provides an] opportunity for these girls to be exposed in a professional way with a leading company and not always limited to being just a sex symbol.'
The Culture Ministry did however admit the calendar isn't breaking any laws, therefore no action will be taken against Nok Air.
Thai Airways has a 49 per cent stake in the airline, which is a joint venture between public and private investors. Thailand's Ministry of Finance owns 51 per cent of Thai Airways, the country's flagship carrier.
