Airline Reportedly Looking Into Mile-High Adult Entertainment

It's difficult to know if Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary is serious, or if this is just one of the airline executive's outrageous trial balloons designed to generate some buzz about the low-cost airline, but if the object is the latter, it's certainly had that effect.

London tabloids including The Sun are reporting that O'Leary has suggested a Ryanair app for smart phones and tablet devices that would have a broad range of in-flight entertainment ... including some that may not be appropriate for general audiences, according to a story appearing in USA Today.

O'Leary is quoted in The Sun as comparing the availability of adult movies on a handheld device on an airplane to its use in hotel rooms.

If his aim was to generate a media controversy, he's been successful. The group Morality in Media (MIM) issued a news release Thursday calling on U.S. citizens, and engaging more than 50 European pro-family organizations, to contact the Ryanair protesting the development of the app. "We will stop this outrage before it gets started," said Dawn Hawkins, Executive Director of MIM.  "Ryanair, which hopes to expand its market to U.S. destinations as well, is creating an unsafe environment for every individual who travels on their planes."

According to Hawkins, a wealth of research demonstrates that pornography consumption is a leading cause of sexual violence and sexual assault as well as a significant contributing factor to sex trafficking. It is also addictive and a danger to children, who will no doubt be exposed to it if allowed on planes.

"Can you imagine how uncomfortable most women passengers and female flight attendants will feel with several men viewing pornography in the small space of an airplane?"  asked Hawkins. "In an office workplace, this would constitute a clear case of sexual harassment."

Of course, O'Leary is also the airline executive who floated such ideas as pay-per-use lavatories and "standing room" seats on flights.

FMI: www.ryanair.com, www.PornHarms.com/no-porn-on-the-plane/