Is it a stunt? Is it a plane? Or is it Ryanair again stirring up the waters?

An email arrives at Timesonline Travel saying a "major airline player" wants 999 people to take off their clothes to publicise the launch of an airline in the UK.

It will be in central London on Sunday March 15 and adds: "You won’t be completely naked - you’ll be given something small to wear over your private parts."

The airline isn't named but a link through to the website http://www.999nudes.com/ quoted reveals those taking part will receive two free tickets to one of eight European destinations from Gatwick.

Now, Aer Lingus launches routes to eight European destinations, from Gatwick, in April.

Two and two equals four - until you consider the hostility from Ryanair towards Aer Lingus following its failure to take over the state airline.

So one suspects a stunt to undermine the Aer Lingus launch, the first time the Irish airline has operated outside of its own country.

Afrer all, Ryanair is on a roll, having barely been out of the headlines in the past two weeks.

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