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The boss of Qatar Airways has issued "heartfelt apologies for any offence caused" for saying that a lady couldn't do his job.
Akbar al-Baker stated on Tuesday that the airline needed to be led by a man "because it is a very challenging position".
He later defended Qatar Airways' report on gender range, however that didn't quell rising criticism.
In an assertion on Wednesday, Mr al-Baker stated Qatar Airways totally supported gender equality.
He stated his feedback on Tuesday have been "sensationalised by the media... Qatar Airways is made stronger by its female employees for whom I hold nothing but the highest regard."
The authentic remarks have been made on the annual convention in Sydney of the aviation trade's commerce physique, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), solely six of whose 280 airline members have feminine chief executives.
Gender imbalance in the trade was a large theme of the convention, the place Mr al-Baker formally took over as IATA's chairman.
Asked at an information convention on Tuesday about feminine employment amongst Middle East airways and whether or not his job might be carried out by a lady, Mr al Baker stated: "Of course it has to be led by a man, because it is a very challenging position".
His remark reportedly prompted groans and boos on the convention, and because the controversy unfold, the chief govt issued an assertion.
"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 nearly half of the airline's workforce, 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 organization".
His assertion continued: "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."
Mr al-Baker has a repute for making blunt and infrequently humorous feedback, however they will additionally backfire.
In 2017, he apologised after calling US flight attendants "grandmothers" throughout a commerce row with US airways, prompting an airline union to accuse him of s3xism and age discrimination.
Asked on Wednesday whether or not he actually believed that solely a man may do his job, Mr al-Baker stated, "No, I don't believe that. As a matter of fact, [at] Air Italy the majority shareholder has shortlisted women to be the CEO and as a minority shareholder, we are actively encouraging that."