Air France, Lufthansa, Etihad ads banned for greenwashing

San Francisco, California, USA - April 13, 2015: Air France Airbus A380 departing San Francisco International Airport.

Advertisements for three major airlines have been banned for claiming to be more environmentally friendly than reality would dictate.

Air France, Lufthansa and Etihad’s ads have not been given any kind of ‘green’ light after it was revealed they had mislead consumers about their environmental impact, BBC reported.

Air France’s ad claimed the airline was “committed to protecting the environment” while Etihad used the words “environmental advocacy” and Lufthansa called on passengers to “fly more sustainably.”

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), a self-regulatory organisation of the advertising industry in the United Kingdom, said the ads did not show the environmental impact these airlines had on climate change. Lufthansa and Etihad have since removed their ads, while the ASA said Air France’s response was unsatisfying.

In Air France’s ad, the airline enabled people to “travel better and sustainably”, according to the ASA, allowing customers to believe the French carrier was offering travellers a sustainable and friendly way to fly, which it wasn’t.

Lufthansa’s Make Change Fly campaign

Lufthansa claimed that its use of the words “fly more sustainably” were a reference to its ‘Green Fares’ options, while Etihad said it has removed references to “environmental advocacy” from its ads following a complaint.

Lufthansa’s Make Change Fly campaign was found to have misled consumers into thinking the carrier was not harming the environment with steps it was taking. The airline responded that the purpose of the ad was to address the need to reduce the environmental impact of flying.

Latest News

  • Aviation

Low-cost Indian carrier SpiceJet continues to burn cash

It’s not just low-cost Australian carriers that are facing hardship. SpiceJet, India’s version of Bonza, recently announced a 72 per cent reduction in its net loss versus last year. But, despite this improvement, the airline has posted losses for six straight years. But it has secured board approval to raise up to INR 30 billion […]

  • Attractions

SAKA Museum recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024

AYANA Resort Bali’s newly-opened cultural and events centre, SAKA Museum has been recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list for 2024. Part of AYANA Bali’s resort destination, the museum integrates Bali’s rich history with state-of-the-art facilities, making it the centrepiece for the island’s spiritual and cultural heritage. TIME magazine’s inclusion of SAKA Museum in […]

  • Cruise

Silversea taps Barbara Biffi as senior vice president for global sales

Ultra-luxury and expedition cruise travel brand, Silverseas, has announced Barbara Biffi as its new senior vice president of global sales. Biffi joined the company in 2007, holding numerous positions and gaining a deep understanding of the brand, the preferences of its guests and its strategic goals, the company said. An Italian national with a wealth […]

  • Technology
  • Travel Agents

Amadeus welcomes FCM Travel as new reseller partner of Cytric Easy

Cytric Easy, the travel management tool embedded in Microsoft Teams, is to be integrated into FCM Travel portfolio. Amadeus and FCM Travel have extended their Cytric distribution agreement to include Cytric Easy. With this new agreement, global travel management company FCM Travel, becomes a reseller of the innovative travel management collaboration solution embedded into Microsoft […]