Avalon Airport axes news advertising campaign that caused outrage for joking about domestic violence

AVALON Airport has axed a new ad campaign that caused outrage for joking about domestic violence.

Avalon Airport has canned it’s new slogan which jokes about domestic violence.

AVALON Airport has axed a new advertising campaign that caused outrage for joking about domestic violence.

The campaign’s slogan — “Fly domestic without having one” — is plastered on a billboard on the Western Ring Rd, and also appeared on a banner across the top of the Geelong airport’s Facebook page and website until it was removed this afternoon.

Avalon Airport announced on Twitter today that the billboard would be removed this week, adding “no offence (was) intended”.

The Airport launched the campaign late last month with the aim to encourage “disgruntled travellers, sick of being stuck in traffic and overcharged at Tullamarine Airport” to consider using Avalon as an alternative when flying domestic, according to a media release.

The campaign was due to feature on a series of freeway billboards, in digital advertising and the airport’s website, which was fully rebranded.

The airport’s marketing manager, Tess Cameron, said at the time the promotion was

designed to “create awareness in the market in a humorous way”.

But in light of the recent domestic violence tragedies — namely the deaths of two young sisters in Watsonia and mother of four Fiona Warzywoda in Sunshine — the tagline has been deemed insensitive and inappropriate.

Geelong councillor Jan Farrell dubbed the campaign “appalling”.

“Can’t believe that anyone would try to sell tickets with a domestic violence slogan,” she tweeted.

Herald Sun columnist and women’s advocate Wendy Tuohy wrote in her blog that the tagline was “tasteless” and “appallingly timed”.

“An organisation that works to combat domestic violence contacted me today to let me know about a pretty awful ad campaign by Avalon Airport,” she wrote.

“For all of those deeply affected by Victoria’s wave of domestic crimes, it a is slogan that could be not just offensive but deeply painful.

“How are they meant to feel when they see ‘domestics’ turned into a jokey tag line?”

Avalon Airport was contacted for comment.

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