SAS blunder
From BBC News
Thursday, 15 November, 2001, 13:13 GMT
Scandinavian Airlines says it will not withdraw copies of a brochure that advertises the view from the World Trade Center in glowing terms.
If it is something that people find hurtful, this is something we regret
SAS spokeswoman Siv Meisingseth
The brochure tells readers that from the top of the twin towers, you have the world at your feet, and that the experience is "overwhelming".
SAS spokeswoman Siv Meisingeth told BBC News Online that the company's cash problems prevented it from withdrawing the brochure, which also advertises 18 other travel destinations.
"SAS is in a very bad economic position. Now it is firing 3,500 people," she said.
"The catalogue costs us a lot of money and we have made a decision not to withdraw it. We are going to make a new one in February."
Cost cutting
She added that the brochure was printed in August, before the 11 September attacks.
It had a run of 30,000 copies, distributed to airport lounges and ticket offices in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
SAS is laying off 13.5% of its workforce
"If it is something that people find hurtful, this is something we regret of course," Ms Meisingseth said.
She added that many copies were ordered over the internet, and could not be recalled from people's homes.
In the wake of the US attacks, the economic outlook is currently gloomy for all European flag carriers.
Swissair and Belgium's Sabena have folded.
And SAS has said it will cut 13% of its workforce in an attempt to reduce costs.
The airline's situation worsened when on 8 October an SAS jet crashed on take off at a Milanese airport, killing more than 100 people.