FEMALE flight attendants at the national carrier EgyptAir are demanding to be allowed to wear veils while on duty; and the management says it needs time to study. Possessing the biggest air traffic volume, fleet and network in Egypt, the national carrier hires more than 900 female flight attendants who are currently not allowed to wear veils against the wishes of dozens of them. Some of them have to quit the job, or convert their duties to work at airports. Others who love to fly have to compromise, taking their veils off just before stepping onboard and on touchdown putting them on again. Two hundred female flight attendants have protested five times over the past five months demanding to be allowed to wear veils. Kamel is set to receive serious demands by flight attendants who had prepared many designs modifying the company uniform including veils to be proposed to the new minister. "Many Arab and even Western airlines permit their crew to wear veils," protested Amira Mansi, who had been working at Egypt Air for twenty years. "We have asked the assigned uniform committee to negotiate over the new designs but they gave no reply," she added. Mansi had to convert her job into a ground attendant. Soon she moved back to serve onboard as her monthly income dropped drastically. Flight attendants claim that out of 900 female working onboard, 200 signed a request to the management to allow them to wear veils onboard. They protest that British Airways has allowed Muslim flight attendants to put on veils, though the carrier is based, owned and operated by non-Muslims.
