Note: This advice is given by the CAP Executive about non-broadcast advertising. It does not constitute legal advice. It does not bind CAP, CAP advisory panels or the Advertising Standards Authority.
The ASA has upheld complaints against ads for flights that specified departure or destination cities but omitted the name of the airport. This is particularly relevant in the ‘no frills’ sector, where airlines fly into airports that tend to be smaller (either in size or volume) and can be located some distance from the main city or town. The problem first came to light in 1998, when the ASA upheld complaints about ads that did not specify that London flights were departing from Stanstead (Ryanair Ltd, July 1998) and that flights to Venice, Stockholm and Oslo were to Treviso, Skavsta and Torp respectively (Ryanair Ltd, September 1998 and November 1998). In the case of the last two destinations, the complainant objected that they were about 50 miles from the capitals. More recently, the ASA upheld a complaint about an ad that implied a flight departed from Lyon whereas it flew from St Etienne (Ryanair Ltd, 3 December 2003).
The ASA has ruled, and the CAP Help Note therefore states, that if marketers are flying into or out of cities that are served by more than one airport they should make clear the airport they are offering.
See Help Note on Travel Marketing.
Last modified : 26 July 2010