Vietjet fined over 'bikini show' for footballers
Team manager Park Hang-seo on the plane. / Captured from YouTube
By Jung Min-ho
Vietnamese budget airline Vietjet has been fined for offering a “bikini show” to Vietnam’s under-23 football team.
Local media reported Wednesday that the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) fined Vietjet 40 million dong ($1,750) and the chief flight attendant 4 million dong for threatening aviation safety by providing the unusual service.
“Despite the fact the Vietjet event didn’t jeopardize the safety of the flight, it could still have posed a safety risk,” the CAAV said.
Vietjet provided the welcoming event for the team on Sunday’s flight to Hanoi from China, where the players achieved a historic second place at the Asian Football Confederation U23 Championship under the leadership of Korean manager Park Hang-seo.
But many people criticized the company for the “cheap” marketing move, after pictures of the flight attendants were leaked to social media.
Over the past few years, Vietjet has been embroiled in similar controversies with its risque marketing campaigns.