MASCOT, New South Wales – Qantas Airways Ltd.'s decision to not serve pork on six daily flights to the Middle East has sparked outrage that has spilled onto its Facebook and Twitter social media channels.

The airline, Australia's largest carrier, removed pork on its Middle East flights after it formed a joint venture with Emirates, which started March 31. The partnership gives travelers between Australia and Europe the option to fly through Dubai instead of Singapore. Other Qantas international flights are unaffected by the change, and other airlines such as Virgin, have implemented similar practices on flights to the Middle East and Indonesia.

In response to the announcement, some outraged consumers took to the airline's Facebook and Twitter pages to voice their displeasure. The company removed some offensive comments, but not all. According to Australian media reports, the company is liable for the content on its Facebook page, and it could be in breach of consumer laws and advertising standards if offensive material isn't immediately removed.