DOHA- The recently appointed head of Qatar Airways (QR) has eliminated a controversial regulation entitled the termination of cabin crew members if they posted photos of themselves in uniform on popular social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.
Historically, Qatar Airways has maintained stringent regulations for its cabin crew, distinguishing itself with some of the most rigorous rules in the aviation industry, reported PYOK.
Qatar Airways Crew Photos
The new CEO, Eng. Badr Al Meer envisions a “new era” marked by a shift towards a culture centered on trust and empowerment as the foundation for collective success.
Al Meer promptly revised a previously criticized curfew policy for cabin crew upon assuming leadership of the state-run airline in November. Now, as part of his efforts, the CEO is aligning other work regulations with international standards in the broader region.
On Friday (Feb 23, 2024), the airline’s cabin crew received the news that they could now freely share photos of themselves on social media without the fear of encountering disciplinary measures.
Under the previous leadership of CEO Akbar Al Baker, cabin crew members were subject to immediate dismissal and deportation from Qatar if they posted pictures of themselves in the airline’s distinctive burgundy-colored uniform.
It’s worth noting that while photos of Qatar Airways cabin crew did exist on different social media platforms, these were typically only shared after the crew member had formally resigned.
Previous Attempts
Qatar Airways has previously adjusted its social media guidelines for cabin crew. In 2016, the airline permitted crew members to publicly identify themselves as Qatar Airways employees on social media. However, this change was short-lived, as the airline faced criticism shortly after due to a crew member’s post in uniform.
In that particular incident, a male crew member was photographed holding two abayas left behind by female passengers on a flight to Europe. In the Middle East, female passengers often dress conservatively during the flight but change their attire before arriving in Europe.
The crew member was subsequently suspended and later terminated for allegedly ridiculing the local culture. Qatar Airways swiftly reverted to its previous strict stance on social media following this incident.
The revised policy now aligns Qatar Airways with its regional counterparts, such as Emirates (EK) and Etihad Airways (EY), who actively endorse their staff sharing photos on social media for free marketing.
The policy revision encourages staff to share their experiences and utilize online photo maker tools for editing and resizing images, ensuring their social media posts meet the high-quality visual standards reflective of the brand’s image.
While some airlines continue to warn cabin crew of potential dismissal for posting uniformed photos on social media, Singapore Airlines (SQ) is notable among them. Renowned for safeguarding the image of its cabin crew adorned in sarong Kabaya, Singapore Airlines strictly maintains restrictions on such social media posts.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News.