Model Bar Refaeli was painted onto the side of a 747 belonging to South West airlines as part of a promotional deal with Sports Illustrated.
To put this remarkable piece of PR into perspective, South West airlines was previously sued for having, and I quote perfectly, an “Under-Dressed Hooters Waitress." Nice. This plane comes a year after Southwest banned Kyla Ebber from flying because her miniskirt was too skimpy. How ironic!
Implications - xx
A PR campaign of this magnitude is fruitful for both Sports Illustrated and Southwest Airlines, as it is buzz worthy and sure to garner heaps of media and public attention. Regardless of the public opinion or controversy associated with this type of racy advertising, the ad speaks to the old adage 'any publicity is good publicity.'
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Aerial Advertising
- The use of airplanes as a promotional platform presents opportunities for brands to create buzz and gain extensive media coverage.
- Controversial Campaigns
- Controversial advertising campaigns can generate significant attention and media coverage, regardless of public opinion.
- Partnering with Media Outlets
- Collaborations between airlines and media outlets provide a mutually beneficial promotional opportunity by leveraging each other's audiences.
Sectors Adopting This
- Airlines
- Airlines can utilize their planes as unconventional advertising spaces to generate additional revenue and increase their brand visibility.
- Media and Entertainment
- Media outlets can partner with airlines to promote their content or events in a unique and attention-grabbing way.
- Fashion and Sports Marketing
- Fashion brands and sports publications can collaborate with airlines to create innovative advertising campaigns that target a specific audience.
