Ryanair Hits Turbulence Over Sexy Staff Pin-Up Calendar

Ryanair has flown straight into a new media storm over its 2010 charity calendar which features its own scantily clad employees.

Ryanair cabin crew strip off at the launch of the 2010 Ryanair Cabin Crew Charity Calendar on...

Ryanair cabin crew strip off at the launch of the 2010 Ryanair Cabin Crew Charity Calendar on November 11, 2009 in London, England. The airline hopes the calendar will raise nearly £100,000 for the UK charity KIDS which provides support to the disabled children all over the UK.

(Marco Secchi/Getty Images)

The National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI) has slammed the airline as "irredeemably old-fashioned" and accused it of a "serious lack of imagination."

In response, Michael O'Leary's airline said the calendar was empowering for women and said the NWCI didn't have "a clue how young women empower themselves."

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Describing the calendar as a work of "art," a spokesman said it was "a step up from last year which makes it a little bit sexier."

The spokesman Stephen McNamara (a man of course!) said the calendar was used to raise massive amounts of money for charities and that they were hoping that they would raise $160,000 next year.

He said all staff participating in the calendar did so on a voluntary basis.

Last year, Ryanair was rocked by revelations that one of its staff was a part-time porn star.

It is not known whether or not the porn star Edita Bente will be featured in next year's calendar.