Spain and Portugal for Visitors

Posted by : John Ross on Jan 25, 2008 - 11:05 AM airtravel

Ryanair actually announced the donation as RYANAIR HANDS OVER €70,000 TO ANGELS QUEST CHARITY (complete with capital letters), under the nose-thumbing headline "MUCHAS GRACIAS SPANISH PRUDES!!!" The latter is a reference to the Spanish consumer group FACUA which complained about the calendar which has raised the money. It contains pictures of alluringly and improbably undressed Ryanair stewardesses, and I am afraid I have to say I agree with all sides of the argument, here - yes, it is insulting to women, yes, the protests did give more publicity to the calendar, and, yes, if they want to take their clothes off, why not? Bless 'em. With any luck, there'll be another one next year. Read on for the full story.

The following is Ryanair's text, not mine:

"MUCHAS GRACIAS SPANISH PRUDES!!!"
RYANAIR HANDS OVER €70,000 TO ANGELS QUEST CHARITY
THANKS TO MOANERS AT SPANISH CONSUMER ORGANISATION

The Girls of Ryanair today (17th Jan) presented the entire proceeds (€70,000) from their 2008 calendar to Ryanair s nominated charity, Angels Quest, after 10,000 copies of the  Girls of Ryanair' 2008 charity calendar sold out in less than a month. The Girls of Ryanair calendar was Santa s favourite this year and attracted deliveries across the globe to countries as far afield as Argentina, Brazil, Iraq, New Zealand, South Korea and even Tonga. Sales increased six-fold after Spanish Consumer Organisation FACUA complained that the Girls of Ryanair were too sexy.

Speaking today, Peter Sherrard, Ryanair's Head of Communications said:

"Ryanair would like to thank the 10,000 people across the globe who made the Girls of Ryanair calendar such a tremendous success, raising €70,000 for the Angels Quest charity. We would like to especially thank the Spanish Consumer Organisation FACUA, whose whinging sent calendar sales through the roof. Ryanair's cabin crew are the finest in Europe, and if our girls want to take their clothes off, we will continue to fight for their right to do so."

Welcoming the €70,000 donation, Deirdre Kelly of Angels Quest charity said;

"We are delighted with this donation and give our sincere thanks to all those people across the globe who bought copies of the Girls of Ryanair calendar and are now supporting our important work, helping the families of children with special needs. A big thank you also to the gorgeous Ryanair Girls who have made this calendar such a roaring worldwide success".