Following reports today that Aer Lingus employees were arrested as part of an ongoing investigation in relation to suspected immigration offences, Ryanair have used the opportunity to promote their flash seat sale, which they are advertising as "cheaper (and more comfortable) than Aer Lingus' catering truck".
This is a direct reference to the claim reported in The Irish Independent that the Aer Lingus employees under investigation were using catering vehicles to move illegal immigrants directly from planes that landed in Dublin Airport to a car-park outside the facility.
Our €9.99 seats cater for all tastes. Fly from @DublinAirport on the lowest fares https://t.co/Nr7PlPYOx3 pic.twitter.com/FDAMv8cv4A
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) 23 January 2017
Meanwhile at Dublin Airport, breaking catering news.... pic.twitter.com/GaKnchO1rF
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) 23 January 2017
Ryanair is an airline company that has been known to employ unusual and often controversial marketing techniques.
The company most recently sent out a call on Twitter for applicants for the "worst job in Ireland" - working for company CEO Michael O'Leary.
Ryanair have hit the headlines in recent years for previous marketing stunts, such as its annual charity calendar featuring cabin-crew in bikinis, and the release of a passenger survey which reported that more than 30,000 of the airline's passengers were in favour of a "fat tax".
Online opinion of their latest tweet ranges from dismay of the company's "use of people trafficking as a marketing ploy to sell seats", to comments suggesting that "whoever runs your social media and advertising department needs a raise".
