Beware of London areas 'populated by Indians, Pakistanis': Air China's racist ad

Beijing: A racist advertisement published in the in-flight magazine of Air China, warned its passengers to stay away from specific areas in London that are mostly populated by Indians, Pakistanis and black people.

A Chinese journalist, who was travelling by Air China plane, came across the advertisement and pointed it out.

"London is generally a safe place to travel, however precautions are needed when entering areas mainly populated by Indians, Pakistanis and black people," said Air China in one of its in-flight magazine.

The airline's "Wings of China" magazine reportedly provides safety advice to travellers based on the race and nationality of local residents.

"We advise tourists not to go out alone at night, and females always to be accompanied by another person when travelling," the magazine adds.

The description prompted London MP Virendra Sharma, who emigrated from India to the UK in the 1960s, to complain to the Chinese government.

"I am shocked and appalled that even today some people would see it as acceptable to write such blatantly untrue and racist statements," he said in an online statement.

"I have raised this issue with the Chinese Ambassador, and requested that he ensures an apology is swiftly forthcoming from Air China, and the magazine is removed from circulation immediately," Sharma said.

Neither Air China nor the Chinese embassy were immediately available to comment on the report, which comes during a period of tension between Beijing and London.