Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has released an advertisement announcing the resumption of its flights to Paris. The advertisement, however, has sparked controversy and confusion on social media. The ad features an image of a PIA plane heading towards the iconic Eiffel Tower with the caption,
“Paris, we’re coming today.”
This visual has led many to question whether the ad is an informational message or a warning.
The ad has drawn comparisons to a previous PIA advertisement from 1979, which showed a plane casting a shadow on the Twin Towers in New York City. The Twin Towers were later destroyed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which claimed thousands of lives. Social media users have criticized the new ad for being tone-deaf and insensitive, given the historical context.
Many people have taken to social media to express their disapproval of the ad’s design. Comments range from sarcastic remarks to outright condemnation. Some users have called for the designer to be fired, while others have questioned how the ad was approved in the first place.
One user commented, “You can’t be serious this time! This was back in the 1970s. Fire your designer!” Another user asked, “Info or warning?”.Despite the backlash, some users have defended the ad, arguing that it has successfully brought attention to PIA’s resumption of flights to Paris.
They claim that without the controversial design, many people would not have known about the new service. The controversy surrounding the ad comes at a time when PIA is trying to rebuild its reputation. The airline had been banned from flying to Europe for four years due to safety concerns and a series of accidents.
The European Union recently lifted the ban after PIA improved its safety standards. Resuming flights to Paris is a positive step for the airline, but the ad’s design has overshadowed this achievement.
