Qatar Airways Boss Says Women Can’t Do His Role “Because It Is A Very Challenging Position”

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These comments will make you want to bang your head against the wall.

At an annual airline industry event in Sydney, Qatar Airways’ chief executive Akbar Al Baker was asked how the International  Air Transport Association (IATA) will tackle the problem of gender inequality in key management positions…

His response?

“Of course, it has to be led by a man because it is a very challenging position.”

The audience groaned and social media has been up in arms in the wake of the antiquated remarks.

Watch the moment…listen to those groans

Akbar Al Baker has since apologised 

Amid the media uproar, the airline boss issued an apology.

He stated his comments do not equal the company’s record of women in leadership roles, he said it was in jest and that the media sensationalised the event.

“I would like to offer my heartfelt apologies for any offence caused by my comment yesterday, which runs counter to my track record of expanding the role of women in leadership throughout the Qatar Airways Group and has been sensationalised by the media.”

He said the airline supports gender equality.

No one is taking the comments lightly

International press are not holding back

A suggestion going forward for the airline boss

It’s not the first time his ‘jests’ have caused controversy

At a conference in Dublin in 2017, speaking to a large audience about the pros of flying with Qatar Airways, he listed ‘lots of legroom” and the fact that “the average age of my cabin crew is only 26 years” as perks.

When the crowd responded with laughs, he continued, “so there is no need for you to travel on these cr*p American carriers”…”You know you’re always being served by grandmothers on American carriers.”

Everyone right now…

Maybe the uproar will force the airline to rethink the male heavy line-up of airline heads

The full apology here…

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