Lufthansa apologizes for World Cup commercial gaffe

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As the 2018 FIFA World Cup is about to kick off in mid-June, soccer fans around the world start to influx to Russia for the sports extravaganza. To allure passengers to fly with Lufthansa, the German airline made a commercial featuring the host country but decided to film everything in Russia’s neighboring country Ukraine.

Lufthansa's commercial "As in Rio" on Youtube. The video has been taken down by Monday. /Screenshot from Twitter

On Monday, after viewed over 1.2 million times on Youtube and triggering extensive criticism, the promotional video was taken down by Lufthansa from all its social media platforms.

“We noticed in the first comments that this hurt the feelings of some viewers,” a Lufthansa statement said. “We sincerely regret and apologize for this."

In the 36-second commercial titled “As in Rio,” two German soccer fans heading to Moscow were featured picturing themselves repeating everything they had enjoyed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil four years ago when Germany lifted the World Cup.

Instead of relaxing in the sun or partying on the beach, the pair experienced pouring rain at a piazza and was greeted by a fisherman along the river bank. The two scenes, however, were soon pointed out by netizens to be viewed from the Ukrainian capital city of Kiev.

Netizens posted a side-by-side comparison to prove Lufthansa's commercial invalid. /Screenshot from Twitter

Netizens compared one scene from the commercial with street view in Kiev. /Screenshot from Twitter

One Twitter user even spotted that the terminal building in the film was neither in Germany or Russia, but also in Ukraine.

Screenshot from Twitter.

Some netizens were still angry after the video was taken down and demanded a reason. Lufthansa later explained that the clip was shot in Kiev for “logistic reasons,” adding that the practice is common for commercials, Channel NewsAsia reports.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin responded to the incident on Twitter, calling Lufthansa’s gaffe an act of “cheating.”

Ukranian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin responded to the incident on Twitter. /Screenshot from Twitter

“I understand why Lufthansa preferred shooting in Ukraine but not Russia: It’s nice and safe here,” Klimkin tweeted. “But you cannot cheat.”

The Ukrainian official went on to offer a friendly gesture to the German company. “I suggest using the footage to make a cool advertisement for their flights to Kiev.”