The boss of Qatar Airways and newly-elected chairman of Iata is at the centre of a sexism storm after being reported as saying his job could only be done by a man.
Akbar Al Baker was denounced on social media after the comments were reported yesterday.
He was reported as saying at the Iata annual meeting in Sydney: “Of course it has to be led by a man, because it is a very challenging position.”
Baker’s comments reportedly drew groans and gasps from those present, and he later took to Twitter to apologise.
Baker said in a statement: “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.
“Women comprise almost half (44%) of our work force and the dedication, drive and skill they bring to their jobs tells me that no role is too tough for them, at all levels of the organisation.
“Qatar Airways firmly believes in gender equality in the workplace and our airline has been a pioneer in our region in this regard, as the first airline to employ female pilots, as one of the first to train and employ female engineers and with females represented through to senior vice president positions within the airline reporting directly to me.
“Qatar Airways is made stronger by its female employees for whom I old nothing but the highest regard. I support all Iata initiatives to promote the advancement of women in our industry, and I am a strong advocate for these and will continue to be moving forward.”
Baker also said that he would welcome a female leader, providing he could train her up.
“It will be my pleasure to have a female chief executive candidate I could then develop to become chief executive after me,” he told Bloomberg.
Travel Weekly columnist, PR expert Steven Dunne, posted a comment on Facebook saying: “All those years of hard work and all that money spent building a global brand – destroyed in an instant, with one simple comment. The #aviation industry has its very own Gerald Ratner moment.”
Grania Haigh also said on the social media network: “No more flights with Qatar Airways while he is boss then. You might think that management expertise might extend to not alienating a huge swathe of your customer base, or is that a skill only a woman can offer?”
Gender equality in the airline industry was discussed at the Iata annual meeting, where Flybe chief executive Christine Ourmieres-Widener was appointed as the only women to the 31-member aviation trade body’s board of governors.
Alan Joyce, the gay chief executive of Qantas who campaigned for marriage equality in Australia, had sat next to Baker at a session on the topic, according to the BBC.
Joyce said that having a diverse workforce could help drive profits.
“If you get the best talent, the best people, the best jobs you’re going to perform better,” he added.
Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways-owner International Airlines Group, said the industry needed to attract more women and that progress had been slow.
“Aer Lingus recruited its first female pilot in 1977… It’s taken 40 years to get to 10%,” he said.