Jetstar has received some flack from travellers for pushing cheap fares to Indonesia while two Aussie men await execution in the country.
The low-cost carrier was promoting one-way fares between Darwin and Denpasar in Bali from $99.
There was also one-way business class flights from $549.
The sale was picked up by a number of social media users, who saw it as bad taste given the situation Australians Andrew Chan and Myurun Sukumaran are facing.
The two men, who were part of the Bali Nine, were sentenced to death by an Indonesian court for smuggling heroin.
The ad that upset social media users.
Currently, they are waiting to find out when they will be transferred to an island in Central Java where their executions will take place.
One Twitter user pointed out that the airline ‘knows Bali will be a hard sell now’ and hashtagged #boycottindonesia.
Another user questioned people’s response – stating the airline has no relation to the two Aussie men.
People having a go at Jetstar for having cheap flights to Bali. Why? How on earth are the #Bali9 and this in any way connected?
— Thomo (@liamthompson1) February 17, 2015
While Ben Simon found it disappointing by tweeting:
What a great idea #Jetstar Let’s go to Bali and party while fellow Australians are being shot like animals in cold blood. #boycottbali — Ben Simons (@c3169181) February 18, 2015
Over the weekend, Australians started a hashtag claiming that they will boycott the destination as protest to the upcoming executions.
People have taken to social media using #boycottindonesia or #boycottbali to urge others to do the same.
Indonesia’s leaders don’t seem phased by the campaign despite Australians being the country’s top five source for international tourists.
Bali’s governor Mangku Pastika believes Australians respect the country and understand the damage cause by drugs.
“I don’t think so (that Bali would be boycotted) because Australians … I know they respect the authority of a country, our nation,” he said.
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