AeroMexico, the country’s national airline carrier, unveiled a new “DNA Discounts” program in a viral ad campaign on Thursday.
The company is offering discounted flights from U.S. states to Mexico for Americans who have Mexican DNA. The higher percent of ancestry, the greater the discount.
“Mexico’s first destination is America, but America’s first destination is not Mexico,” the ad begins. “So we went to a typical American town to ask why they don’t consider Mexico an option to travel to.”
The commercial features resident of Wharton, Texas sharing their negative opinions about Mexico. Wharton is about 300 miles north of the Mexican border.
“Let me stay here in peace and let those folks stay on their side of the border,” one resident said.
Another said he likes tequila and burritos but doesn’t like Mexico.
The airline cited data from the Department of Homeland Security which found that Mexican immigration in the south dates back to the 1800s.
“Meaning that a big percentage of Mexican ascendants in the U.S.A. doesn’t even know it yet,” the commercial states. “So we did a DNA test to prove it and turn those results into discounts.”
The ad shows some respondents celebrating and smiling their new travel opportunity, with one participant saying “I love discounts.”
“That’s bullshit,” another person said in the aid.
The two-minute commercial ends with the tagline “there are no borders within us.”
CNN reported that the “DNA Discounts” ad was released by Ogilvy, the airline’s advertising agency. It had not appeared on AeroMexico’s official social media platforms but quickly racked up views on Facebook and Twitter.
The Hill has reached out to the airlines for comment.
The commercial comes amid increased tensions over Mexican immigration.
The record-long partial U.S. government shutdown was triggered on Dec. 22 over President Trump’s demand for $5.7 billion for a border ball.