Qantas Airways recently faced backlash after showing a racy movie, ‘Daddio’, on every screen during a flight from Sydney to Haneda. The airline confirmed that technical issues with the in-flight entertainment system prevented individual movie selection, leading the crew to choose one movie to play for all passengers. The decision was reportedly based on requests from a number of passengers, although the movie was later deemed unsuitable for all ages due to its R rating.
‘Daddio’ follows a woman engaging in a conversation with her cab driver as they discuss various topics, including relationships and infidelity. The film’s R rating is due to its explicit language, sexual content, and brief nudity. Passengers on the Qantas flight, particularly families with children, were uncomfortable with the movie’s nudity and mature themes. Some social media users expressed their discomfort and mentioned that they were unable to turn off the movie, further fueling the controversy.
Qantas has issued an apology to customers for the incident, acknowledging that the movie was not suitable for the entire flight. After attempting to resolve the issue by fixing screens for passengers who did not wish to watch the movie, the crew ultimately changed all screens to a family-friendly film for the remainder of the journey. The airline stated that this is their standard practice in rare cases where individual movie selection is not possible and confirmed that they are reviewing the process for selecting in-flight movies moving forward.
The airline’s response to the situation has garnered criticism online, with some users expressing their disappointment and calling out the lack of individual movie selection on Qantas flights. In light of the incident, Qantas has faced scrutiny from both customers and competitors. Air New Zealand, for example, took a jab at Qantas by highlighting their own in-flight entertainment system that allows passengers to choose their movies, contrasting it with Qantas’ one-movie-for-all approach.
This incident has prompted Qantas to reevaluate its procedures for selecting in-flight movies and ensuring that they are appropriate for all passengers, regardless of age or preferences. The airline’s commitment to providing a comfortable and enjoyable travel experience for customers remains a top priority, and they have taken steps to rectify the situation and prevent similar issues in the future. Moving forward, Qantas will strive to offer a diverse selection of movies that cater to different tastes while maintaining a family-friendly environment onboard their flights.
