Qatar defends alleged ‘sexist’ crew policies 

Qatar defends alleged ‘sexist’ crew policies 

Qatar Airways has defended its female flight attendant policies following media backlash over ‘outdated’ and ‘sexist’ findings published by the International Transport Workers’ Federation.

The airline told the Washington Post that it does hire cabin crewmembers that are already married, after the Federation published alleged findings of standard Qatar Airways employee’s contracts last week, which seemingly stated otherwise.

The airline also told the paper single employees do not have to ask for permission to marry, again initially stated by the Federation as an alleged policy in which crew contracts bar females from marrying for five years, and “even after that period they must seek the airline’s permission to marry”, it stated

“Qatar Airways flight attendants do not have to be, or remain single,” Qatar Airways senior vice president, customer experience, Rossen Dimitrov said in the statement to the paper. “Many of our cabin crew are in fact married.”

However, for “health and safety reasons”, the airline said cabin crew must notify the airline of pregnancies also to adhere to a mandate by Qatar’s civil aviation authority.

“If employees cannot fly because of pregnancy, they are “assisted with finding suitable ground positions,”’, the paper reported the airline stating.

Qatar was unable to specify when these policies took effect and comes after media slammed the airline last week following the alleged findings by The International Transport Workers’ Federation.

Initial media reports stated the airline’s policies as ‘outdated’ and ‘sexist’ after findings stated Qatar Airways’ contracts allegedly stated it only hired single female flight attendants who faced the possibility of being fired when pregnant.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

    Latest comments
    1. Why are they picking on Qatar? There are lots more countries that do this. EG: Thailand is blatant at hiring people who are m/f single/married etc – for ANY job, let alone airline cabin crew. There aren’t even laws for it.

airline aviation International Transport Workers’ Federation. qatar qatar airways

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]