CITING public concern, Virgin Atlantic has scrapped plans to install urinals in the shape of a woman's lips at the airline's clubhouse at New York's John F. Kennedy airport.

 

"Everyone at Virgin Atlantic was very sorry to hear of people's concerns about the design of the 'Kisses' urinals," the airline said.

 

"We can assure everyone who complained to us that no offence was ever intended."

 

The urinal was designed by Netherlands-based company Bathroom Mania, which markets the product as: "Kisses, the sexy urinal, makes a daily event a blushing experience! This is one target men will never miss."

 

The design is of a woman's mouth with bright red lips, opened as if waiting to be kissed.

 

Photographs of the urinals were published in the New York press earlier this week and drew a lot of negative public feedback, with complaints that they were overly-suggestive and tasteless.

 

In today's statement, Virgin said they were intended as a "fun and quirky" alternative to the traditional all-white models.

 

"The urinals themselves were the idea of a female designer and we were therefore surprised by the reaction," the airline said.

 

"However, Virgin Atlantic always aims to listen to our passengers and the general public and as a result we will not install the urinals."

 

Virgin's swanky clubhouse at JFK airport is for passengers flying its new upper-class suite service.

can you say, best idea ever.

Haha, that would be sweet.