"Qatar Airways CEO: Claims about sexist employment policies ‘not true’", 18 Feb 2015

Qatar Airways’ chief executive has denied claims that the airline maintains sexist policies that require female flight attendants to ask for permission to get married or get pregnant, telling CNN: “That is not true. That is a load of bullsh–.”

Akbar Al Baker was responding to previously circulating allegations, which most recently were reported in the Washington Post, that Qatar’s national carrier only hires single female cabin crew and that the women sign a contract that prevents them from getting married until five years after working for the company.

The airline has also been accused of requiring female flight attendants to inform their bosses as soon as they know they are pregnant, which can effectively lead to them losing their jobs and residency in Qatar.