Flight attendants object to pinup on plane

ORLANDO, Fla., March 3 (UPI) -- Flight attendants for Florida-based AirTran Airways have objected to an image of a woman in a swimsuit displayed on the side of a Boeing 737 jet.

AirTran, based in Orlando with its largest hub in Atlanta, said the image was put on the side of one of its planes as part of a partnership with Sports Illustrated for its annual swimsuit edition and the picture will soon be removed from the jet as the promotion draws to a close, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Wednesday.

The Association of Flight Attendants at AirTran sent a message to its members objecting to the image.

"It is our feeling that this is not only contrary to the family image that this company tries to promote, but also potentially offensive to their female employees, the majority of their flight attendants who will have to work on this aircraft," the union said. It said the promotion "creates a potential for verbal abuse by male passengers."

AirTran spokesman Christopher White said the decal is "subdued and classy."

"We have the highest respect for all of our crew members, male and female," White said. "We also went to great lengths to ensure that the image that we put on the side of our planes was very tastefully done and very much a family friendly image."