American Fires Back Over “Grandmothers” Comment

Qatar Airways’ executive comments provide a rally point for American Airlines and unions.

American Airlines, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) are speaking out against outspoken Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar al-Baker once again, but for a different reason than the Middle East carrier’s planned investment. Speaking to The Street, American leadership called the remarks “incredibly offensive […] sexist [and] ageist.”

The Qatari flag-carrier executive made the comments during a ball commemorating new service between Doha and Dublin, Ireland. In an excerpt of his speech captured on video by Irish industry publication TravelExtra, al-Baker touted the youth of his cabin crew, claiming the average age of his in-flight employees is 26 years old.

“There’s no need for you to travel on those crap American carriers,” al-Baker told the audience, as caught on video. “You know, you are always being served by grandmothers on American carriers.”

When the video came out, executives at American Airlines fired back. In an internal statement obtained by The Street, vice president of flight services Jill Surdek expressed her shock at the comments, while praising the work done by the airline’s staff daily.

“At American, our flight attendants are hired for their professionalism, dedication to safety, and commitment to our customers,” Surdek wrote, according to The Street. “And it is because of this that we would be happy to put all of our families – including our grandmothers – on any American flight.”

These comments were echoed by two of aviation’s most prominent labor unions, the ALPA and AFA-CWA. Both groups immediately denounced the comments, calling on flyers to drop their support for Qatar Airways’ expansion.

“Straight from Akbar Al Baker’s lips, he confirms what AFA has said all along: Qatar Airways thrives on misogyny and discrimination,” Sara Nelson, president of the AFA-CWA said in a press release. “Flight Attendants are onboard to save lives and every life counts. If you prop up Qatar Airways you are supporting sexism, racism, and ageism. Period.”

“The head of Qatar Airways sunk to a new low recently when he disparaged hard-working U.S. crewmembers and airlines,” Cpt. Tim Canoll, president of the ALPA, said in a statement. “Akbar al-Baker’s sexist and degrading remarks are an affront to our core values as a country, and he owes U.S. airline workers an apology.”

Qatar intends to continue their 4.75 percent purchase of American from stocks available on the open market. American chief executive Doug Parker has called the investment “puzzling,” going so far to rally against it in statements to employees.