London, Dec 14: An airline calendar has been slammed by Spain’s government-run Women’s Institute for being sexist – because it features scantily clad airhostesses.

The Ryanair’s 2008 calendar, which is sold on flights, has a different hostess posing in or outside the aircraft for each month.

The Women’s institute said it is positive that proceeds from sale of the calendar go to Irish disabled children’s charity ‘Angel’s Quest’, however, they branded the photos as sexist.

The institute said that the photographs ‘represent the stewardesses as sexual objects” and “reinforce discriminatory stereotypes’.

"It is significant that that only women are used, in a sector in which there is a considerable percentage of men, " The Sun quoted the institute, as saying.

"We're not talking about morals or nudity here, it's simply how women are portrayed, " institute spokeswoman Maria Jesus Ortiz said.

"If there had been men in the calendar, I'm sure there would have been no controversy, ” she added.

Ortiz said that a letter of complaint would be sent to the Irish Embassy in Spain and to the European Union’s gender equality group.

But in its defence, Ryanair said that it was for a good cause and that the hostesses volunteered to pose for the sexy pictures. (ANI)