Air New Zealand (ANZ) has been accused of objectifying women after releasing a safety video featuring Sports Illustrated swimsuit models.
ANZ gave online viewers a behind the scenes look at “Safety in Paradise” last week, which was shot in the Cook Islands and features some of the biggest names in modelling.
The airline teamed up with Sports Illustrated’s iconic swimsuit franchise on the eve of the magazine’s 50th anniversary.
The video (below) included a guest appearance from supermodel Christie Brinkley.
Feminist commentator and lecturer at New Zealand’s Massey University, Dr Deborah Russell, told the New Zealand Telegraph she is worried male passengers are going to be sat next to her “leering at the beautiful women on the screen”.
“My concern is that as a woman I get on a plane to go to a business meeting and I am confronted by women in bikinis in what are highly sexualised images. That jars,” she said.
“I want to be taken seriously but it seems that suddenly they are saying that my sexuality is all that matters about me.”
An ANZ spokesperson said: “Safety in Paradise has been tested extensively with a cross-section of customers and staff to ensure we strike the right balance between entertainment and conveying important safety messages.
"Given this edition of our safety video celebrates 50 years of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, it's natural that we feature some of the magazine's best-known models.
"As the video is shot in a beach setting, it's entirely appropriate they're wearing beachwear, and we were careful to ensure all talent were in appropriate wardrobe choices."
The video will be progressively rolled out across Air New Zealand fleet from the end of February.