The chief executive of Qatar Airways was forced to issue an apology on Wednesday, after he was criticised for making sexist comments about his cabin crew members.
At a dinner in Ireland last week, CEO Akbar Al Baker boasted that the average age of his cabin crew was “only 26′, after saying that US airlines are “crap” and that passengers are served by “their grandmothers”.
Earlier this week Al Baker issued an apology for his “careless” remarks, adding that they did not reflect his “true sentiments about cabin crew”.
“Competition among air carriers is robust. This is healthy, especially for our passengers, but our competition must remain respectful,” he wrote in a letter to the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA).
“For the cabin crew serving aboard all air carriers, professionalism, skill and dedication are the qualities that matter. I was wrong to imply that other factors, like age, are relevant,” he added.
Qatar Airlines are one of the one’s most influential airlines, owning a 20 percentstake in the British Airways owner International Airlines Group, and 10 percent of South America’s LATAM Airlines.
The comments come just weeks after Qatar was banned from operating the airline in Saudi Arabia, as part of a diplomatic row between the two countries.
Saudi Arabia’s aviation authority formally withdrew Qatar’s licence to land and fly in the country back in June, ordering the airline’s offices to to be closed within 48 hours. The airline is wholly owned by the Qatari government, employing more than 40,000 people worldwide.
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates are currently in the midst of a political rift with Qatar, in one of the worst crises the region has seen in years. The four countries have accused Qatar of supporting terrorism and destabilising the region, accusations that have been rejected by Qatar.