Why is Starcom booking ads for Qatar Airways on the anti-Palestinian Sky News channel?

As promised in an earlier posting Gaza Solidarity got in touch with both Qatar Airways and Starcom, its media buyer/planner in the UK, with regards the ad spend of the airline on the Sky News channel.

Gaza Solidarity recently reported that Qatar Airways named the latest addition to its fleet of aircraft 'Gaza' in an act of humanitarian solidarity. This obviously doesn't sit very well with the infamous decision of the pro-Israel Murdoch-owned Sky TV and its right-wing 'news' channel not to broadcast the DEC appeal for Gaza.

We sent the following question to the airline:

I would like to ask the CEO, Mr Al Baker, about Qatar Airways's advertising, through its sponsorship of the weather segment, on Sky News. The airline recently brought into service a Boeing 777 which it named 'Gaza' in solidarity with the suffering people there. Given this, why is the airline advertising on a station that refuses to show a humanitarian appeal for Gaza?

We sent the following questions to Starcom:

I left a message on your voicemail this lunchtime regarding media buying for Qatar Airways in the UK. I don't know if you are aware but Qatar Airways recently brought into service a Boeing 777 and named it 'Gaza' - an act of humanitarian solidarity with the people there following the recent war conducted by Israel. I have sent the following question to Mr Al Baker the ceo at Qatar Airways:

"I would like to ask the CEO, Mr Al Baker, about Qatar Airways's advertising, through its sponsorship of the weather segment, on Sky News. The airline recently brought into service a Boeing 777 which it named 'Gaza' in solidarity with the suffering people there. Given this, why is the airline advertising on a station that refuses to show a humanitarian appeal for Gaza?"

I appreciate Starcom can not speak for its clients and you would not wish to damage your relationship with Qatar Airways, but have you had any requests to end advertising on Sky? If not, do you think advertising with Sky TV could be problematic in the future, given the pressure the airline is coming under at home to withdraw from commercial arrangements with Sky because of its refusal to air the Disasters Emergency Appeal for Gaza? Thanking you in advance for your time.

We await the responses with baited breath and will let you know what they have to say as soon as we get it.

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