AirAsia flights to Indonesia to have all-male crew
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Other airlines have said they will comply and require their female Muslim crew members to cover their heads on flights to the sharia-law practising province.
AirAsia Indonesia’s corporate secretary Baskoro Adiwiyono said Friday that the airline was ensuring its flights adhere to regulations.
“For the time being, all AirAsia flights from and to Aceh will be operated by male cabin crew,” he said.
Aceh authorities on Wednesday circulated a letter with their demand to several airlines.
The letter, issued by the chief of Aceh Besar district, which oversees the airport in the provincial capital Banda Aceh, said female Muslim flight attendants are obliged to wear the hijab in accordance with the rules of Islam and airlines should support the implementation of sharia law in the province.
Non-Muslim flights attendants were not required to wear the headscarves, said Mawardi Ali, chief of the Aceh Besar region where the airport is located. ■