Outrage over Qatar Airways head’s “sexist” comments

CAIRO – 12 July 2017: Qatar Airways has attracted a wave of censure from industry patrons, cabin crew workers and audiences all over the world after what were described as “sexist” remarks by its CEO, Akbar al-Baker, who described the cabin crew of U.S. airlines as “grandmothers.”

Baker bragged about the average age of Qatar Airways’ flight attendants while speaking at an event in Dublin, Ireland last week commemorating his airline’s new flight route between Ireland’s capital and Doha.

“By the way, the average age of my cabin crew is only 26 years, so there is no need for you to travel on this crap American carriers,” al-Baker said. “You know you are always being served by grandmothers at American carriers,” he added in footage that was later uploaded to YouTube.



The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) expressed their outrage over Baker’s remarks, with AFA President Sara Nelson saying in a statement released on Sunday, "Straight from Akbar al-Baker’s lips, he confirms what AFA has said all along: Qatar Airways thrives on misogyny and discrimination. Qatar is not only seeking to choke out U.S. aviation, but also the 300,000 good jobs built through opportunity created on the principle of equality,” she said. “There is no room for a separation of humanity in air travel or in an emergency. Flight attendants are onboard to save lives, and every life counts. If you prop up Qatar Airways, you are supporting sexism, racism and ageism.”

Another airlines association, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), also condemned Baker’s comments, which it described as “chauvinistic remarks.”

“The head of Qatar Airways sunk to a new low recently when he disparaged hard-working US crewmembers and airlines that represent $1.5 trillion in economic activity,” ALPA President Capt. Tim Canal said in a statement posted to ALPA’s website on Tuesday. “Akbar al-Baker’s sexist and degrading remarks are an affront to our core values as a country, and he owes U.S. airline workers an apology,” he added.

Qatar Airways has faced huge losses since its latest rift with Arab countries, as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE closed their airspaces to Qatari jets on June 5 after severing diplomatic ties with the Gulf state over accusations that it supports terrorism.