Qatar CEO: This Role Is Too Difficult For A Woman
Jackie Reddy June 06, 2018
Discussing diversity in aviation at the IATA AGM in Sydney, Akbar Al Baker, chief of Qatar Airways,
shocked the gathering by explaining that his role at the carrier could only be held by a man. It is unclear whether the comments were made in jest, but the statement drew gasps from the audience.
Comments made by Qatar Airways boss Akbar Al Baker have provoked controversy at this year’s
International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual general meeting in Sydney, Reuters reports.
Diversity is a major theme at this year’s gathering, with the chiefs of many carriers taking the time to
openly discuss the issue.
Al Baker, who also serves as the current chairman of the board of governors at IATA, was reportedly
asked why a lack of diversity was so problematic at Middle Eastern carriers and why his role at Qatar
could not be performed by a woman. The BBC quoted Al Baker as saying, “Of course it has to be led by
a man, because it is a very challenging position.”
His response to these questions appears to have shocked those present, with some gasping and
groaning in surprise at Al Baker’s answer.
Al Baker then appeared to qualify his words by reminding the audience that Qatar was the first airline in
the region to employ female pilots and that women are present in the top echelons of the company.
“So we actually encourage women. We see that they have huge potential in doing senior management
positions,” Al Baker said.
He also added that he would be happy to see a female successor follow him as chief executive at Qatar.
“It will be my pleasure to have a female CEO candidate I could then develop to become CEO after me,”
he was quoted by the BBC as saying.
It is unclear whether these comments were made in jest, but this is not the first time Al Baker’s
comments have made headlines. Back in 2017, Al Baker caused controversy by referring to female
cabin crew working across American carriers as “grandmothers.”
[Photo: Shutterstock]
Well, BMGRAHAM, how is it incorrect? The case seems pretty clear. The Middle East is the place where wahabbism is rampant, where women have to don unflattering clothes to "hide" them from sight, where until recently the largest country in the area forbade women from even driving. Sorry, but just because you are not member of a culture doesn't mean you lose footing for any criticism of that culture, and in fact it may just give us a dispassionate, neutral view that people in that culture lack.
People say the same thing as 35ftcabo about women in my religion - except that it's not correct. It's fine to make observations about cultures that you don't understand, as long as you realize that you observations are most likely to be incorrect.
How can anyone say "It's not clear if he was joking?" He's not they have no respect for women, they just see them as property.
The inferior position of women in Middle Eastern culture is well known. Why his comment “drew gasps “ is puzzling - it’s only to be expected.
He is yet another reason never to fly on any airline from the Middle East. I will never understand why other airlines would want to do any business with companies which treat women like slaves.