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The ad, which shows a picture in the style of the 'Hello Boys' Wonderbra ads of the 1990s, was the subject of 186 complaints from members of the public for demeaning women and for trivialising the war in Iraq.

The ad, which ran in national newspapers and the London-based Evening Standard, was headlined "Discover weapons of mass distraction" and a message below the picture offered "Lowest fares to the sun".

Easyjet defended the campaign as the latest in a series of light-hearted, topical and irreverent ads.

The low-cost airline said the ad was not demeaning to women and was found funny by people of both sexes. It also said the term "weapons of mass destruction" had been in the news for weeks and, by changing one word, the ad highlighted one of the attractions of being on holiday in the sun.

The newspapers that carried the ads also defended the creative. The Evening Standard thought it was a witty play on a phrase in common usage, while The Sunday Telegraph called the idea "traditional 'Carry On' humour".

The Daily and Sunday Express, the Daily Star, The Times and The Sunday Times and The Sun all said they did not receive any complaints. The Sun even said it received a positive response from readers.

The Advertising Standards Authority concluded the ad was humorous and was not likely to cause serious or widespread offence. It said that although the phrase "weapons of mass distraction" was likely to be seen as a direct reference to the recent events in Iraq, the advertisement did not trivialise the deaths, injuries or plights of those involved in the conflict.

In May, Easyjet escaped censure by the watchdog for three press ads encouraging people to avoid the Congestion Charge.

Transport for London complained that the ads unfairly denigrated the charge and Ken Livingstone, but the ASA rejected the complaints.

Ads by the airline were also in the spotlight when it used a picture of David Beckham in a campaign in the national press offering the Real Madrid star and his family free flights back home every week.

Beckham complained about the fact that the picture had been used without his permission and threatened the airline with legal action unless it paid £10,000 to the NSPCC.

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