CAIRO: A committee of EgyptAir stakeholders convened to discuss and debate the question of whether flight attendants have the right to wear a hijab, the traditional Muslim headscarf, on flights. Chairman of the Board Hossam Kamal, who will spearhead the effort, deemed the issue “the flight attendant's hijab” file. Hussein said changing the uniform of an important company with a well-recognized brand like EgyptAir is not a simple process. Therefore, he said, flight attendants must be aware of all potential implications of such a change – it is not simply putting a scarf on one's head. Instead, the many religious and political perspectives involved with such a change must be addressed. If the proposal is accepted, said Hussein, the uniform must be redesigned to fit the hijab, particularly since all the flight attendant uniforms are designed in Europe. Hussein also said that when an airline changes its flight attendant uniform, it is a long process and cannot be done overnight. In an effort to increase the transparency of the discussions, two flight attendants who submitted requests to wear the hijab will sit on the committee, said Hussein. He also said the ultimate responsibility of the committee is to determine whether or not this demand can be met. This action started after a group of flight attendants lodged an official request with the company to wear the hijab on flights. The flight attendants also organized a protest outside the Ministry of Aviation to voice their demands.
