EasyJet christens new Israel route with Shoah fashion shoot

[Israel Insider]

Easyet, the British low-cost airline, has "profusely" apologized after fashion photos shot at the Holocaust memorial in Berlin, with models posing among the commemorative stones, were featured in its in-flight magazine.

Nearly three weeks after they were first distributed, EasyJet said it was withdrawing this month's issue from all flights. An airline spokesman admitted that the pictures were “completely inappropriate” but added: “It’s not particularly obvious where they were shot. That’s why it’s taken 20 days for anyone to notice.”

The memorial to the Holocaust's six million Jewish victims consists of a field of 2,700 gray slabs situated close to the capital's Brandenburg Gate.

"The magazine is produced by INK, an external publishing house, and easyJet were not aware of the images until they appeared in print," the UK's largest airline told the magazine.

"As a consequence we are now reviewing our relationship with the publisher and are withdrawing this month's issue from all flights," Easyjet went on to say.

"Easyjet prides itself on bringing together a wide range of cultures and beliefs and is appalled by this insensitive and inconsiderate photoshoot," the airline's statement concluded.



According to the report, INK did not seek permission from the Foundation for the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe to shoot the pictures.

Denis MacShane, former Europe Minister and head of the European Institute for the Study of Contemporary anti-Semitism, criticised the airline for allowing the pictures to be published. “This is further evidence of the banalisation of anti-Semitism and the trivialisation of the genocidal massacre of Jews in the Second World War,” Mr MacShane said.

Stephen Pollard, editor of the Jewish Chronicle, said: "easyJet appear to have been crass in the extreme".

Easyjet launched a weekly schedule of six daily flights between London and Tel Aviv earlier in November.

[Campbell Randt]

Easyjet understands the concept of "public relations fiasco."

I am NOT certain, however, that they grasp the full range of the INSENSITIVITY and CRUDITY and OFFENSIVENESS which this vile incident epitomizes.