Budget carrier Vietjet has been fined VND40 million (USD1,818) for the use of bikini-wearing models on the plane that welcomed the local U23 football team home on January 28.
The decision was made by the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) on January 30.
Model Lai Thanh Huong is photographed hugging and sitting beside several players during the flight
The chief flight attendant on flight VJ7269 was also fined VND4 million for supposedly not reporting the event to the captain.
Vietjet has been in hot water since January 28 when clips and photos showing bikini-clad dancers strutting and performing suggestive moves on the airline’s Changzhou-Hanoi flight carrying the U23 players went viral.
The dancers approached the players for photos. Model Lai Thanh Huong was photographed hugging and sitting beside several players.
The clips and photos received negative comments from the public who criticised the provocative bikini show.
After that, Vietjet Air CEO, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, apologised claiming that the bikini performance was not in their plan but added by the flight's reception team. Vietjet Air have often used bikini-clad models in publicity stunts and have been criticised on numerous occasions for using models for cheap publicity.
In 2012, VietJet Air was fined VND20 million (USD960) by Vietnam aviation authorities for organising a bikini show on the Ho Chi Minh City-Nha Trang City route.
