Colombia Wants Apology From Spirit Airlines
MIRAMAR, Fla. (CBSMiami) – Spirit Airlines has never missed on an opportunity to take advantage of a major news event or embarrassing situation and use it in an advertisement. But the Colombian government has taken offense with Spirit's latest ad.
Spirit promoted flights to Cartagena, Colombia with a man dressed in a dark suit and glasses that resembled a U.S. Secret Service agent and scantily clad women with a slogan of "More Bang For Your Buck."
Spirit was lampooning the Secret Service scandal that erupted a little more than a week ago in Colombia. Secret Service agents and some military personnel were involved in a dispute with local prostitutes, which came to light after one prostitute said the agents refused to pay.
Spirit added in the advertisement ran after the scandal broke that an upfront payment was required.
Colombia's Tourism Minister told BBC News that Spirit should apologize to the city of Cartagena and to the Colombian government.
"It is a shameful publication and we demand that the airline withdraw it and publicly apologize to Cartagena and Colombia," Tourism Minster Sergio Diaz said.
CBSMiami has reached out to Spirit Airlines for a comment on the Tourism Minister's statement, but has yet to hear back from the Miramar-based airline.
