Airline Fires 20 Over Internet Porn

It's probably not what they envisioned when they named the airline "Virgin Blue", but the Australian carrier has reportedly fired 20 managers and staff working at the Sydney and Brisbane airports for using airline computers to view and trade pornographic images.

The airline said all of the employees had ignored at least one warning about breaching the company's code of conduct, and had been "terminated."

The airline had been investigating at least twice that many people, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Sources speaking on condition on anonymity said those let go were primarily baggage handlers who would use computers in offices and staff rooms to watch the illicit material, and then swap the items they considered "good."

The source said there were managers present at the time, and they were actively engaged in the violations of company policy. The material was considered "hard core triple-X," according to the source.

"We absolutely do not tolerate any misconduct," said Virgin Blue spokeswoman Danielle Keighery. She added that the workers involved did not have direct contact with customers. Keighery said that as many as 40 people had been investigated, so many that they could not all be suspended because there was not sufficient back-up staff to fill the positions while they conducted the investigation.

FMI: www.virginblue.com.au