Social media unimpressed by Air China's racist 'guide' to Indians, Pakistanis, Blacks

One of China’s major airlines and flag carrier Air China has come under fire in Britain for a racist article in its in-flight magazine. The Wings of China magazine offered some “Tips from Air China” in an article aimed at helping tourists travelling to London. “London is generally a safe place to travel, however precautions are needed when entering areas mainly populated by Indians, Pakistanis and black people,” is an excerpt from the contentious piece. The issue came into the spotlight when Haze Fan, a producer at CNBC, tweeted a photo of this section in the Mandarin-English magazine article.

A piece of advice in Air China inflight magazine. What does @MayorofLondon think? @CNBCi @SeamusConwell @cnbcSri pic.twitter.com/u7SGfiyuXA

— Haze Fan (@Hazeology) September 6, 2016

In another absurd development, Air China’s Twitter handle @AirChinaNA had tweeted an apology for the article and consequently deleted the apology. Air China has now released an apology statement again which Fan has tweeted.

#AirChina issued statement on #london safety tips incident @CNBCi @MayorofLondon (statement translated) pic.twitter.com/CHYQSbz1Ir

— Haze Fan (@Hazeology) September 8, 2016

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The magazine team has also released an apology to Air China for their ‘editorial mistakes’. They deem the reactions of the media and readers as misinterpretations and fail to apologise the readers in question.

#AirChina magazine issued apology over #London safety tips incident @CNBCi @MayorofLondon (statement translated) pic.twitter.com/pdueka2pBl

— Haze Fan (@Hazeology) September 8, 2016

Virendra Sharma, Labour MP for Ealing Southall, United Kingdom has been one of the most vocal critics of this issue. He has written to China’s ambassador to Britain, “Today I have written in the strongest possible terms to His Excellency Mr Liu Xiaoming, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China, to raise my concerns about reports of racism in their inflight magazine.”

This is offensive and I hope @AirChinaNA will remove this magazine and apologise immediately. https://t.co/ERusTGdjUu

— Virendra Sharma (@VirendraSharma) September 7, 2016

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Social media has naturally been brimming with indignation over Air China’s flippant treatment of the issue. Celebrities and members of the ethnic communities alike gave a piece of their mind to the airline.

.@airchina Your magazine is affront to the ethnic communities in UKhttps://t.co/d1lLC5yhrG

— The Lord Leong CBE (@SonnyLeong53) September 7, 2016

The comments in @airchina's magazine. Assuming the @MayorofLondon has made a phone call to China this morning... pic.twitter.com/w6o6QNiCoe

— Sonali Shah 📺📻 (@SonaliShah) September 8, 2016

Really, @airchina? Are you trying to win the "Most Racist In-flight Magazine" competition? pic.twitter.com/4KDvTp3CFR

— Andrew Stroehlein (@astroehlein) September 8, 2016

WTF..!!! #AirChina.. Really???? https://t.co/3eLwa4hfES

— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) September 8, 2016

Pakistan considers China its best friend, but this is what China thinks of Paks! Here is Air China's in-flight mag. pic.twitter.com/MeEvYpOGB6

— Tarek Fatah (@TarekFatah) September 7, 2016

Outrageous #racist advice from #AirChina #London is a cosmopolitan city, as safe for tourists as any other city! https://t.co/CsFD0Nt20G

— PrincessBagel (@PrincessBagel) September 8, 2016

The advice is at odds with the London promoted by its Mayor Sadiq Khan, a British national with Pakistani parents, who in July launched a #LondonisOpen campaign and frequently blogs about his favorite places to eat and drink in his South London Indian-Pakistani neighbourhood of Tooting. With inputs from AP and PTI.