Watchdog bans BA advertisement

London: A TV ad for British Airways, promoting the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, China, as a trip destination has been banned by the advertising watchdog because the airline does not fly there.

The ad formed part of a wider TV campaign which aimed to fight the "staycation" trend by highlighting exciting events around the world.

The TV ad featured the giant Canton trade fair and the line: "Right now, somewhere in the world, is a great business opportunity. And no one can fly you to more of them, direct from the UK, than British Airways."

The Advertising Standards Authority received a complaint that the ad was misleading because it implied that BA flies directly to Guangzhou, which it does not. BA said the purpose of the campaign was not to promote any individual event or specific route but to "demonstrate the diversity of events that took place all over the world and to promote the fact that [it flies] to more destinations direct from the UK than any other airline". BA said no airline flies direct from the UK to Guangzhou.