EgyptAir airplanes are flying with hijab-wearing flight attendants for the first time since the company’s establishment, after EgyptAir holding company head Tawfiq Assy approved the hijab pending distribution of the company’s new uniform cap next month.
Assy said that female attendants are allowed to wear the hijab on flights to all destinations, adding that this would not affect their work.
A group of female flight attendants have been calling for their right to wear the veil since the middle of the year. They staged a strike that ended in September after the company agreed to their request. Additionally, a group of male EgyptAir flight attendants have also demanded the right to grow beards.
The move comes amid growing Islamist power in the aftermath of the 25 January revolution, the election of former Muslim Brotherhood member Mohamed Morsy as president and calls to apply Sharia in the new constitution.
Egyptian state TV allowed female presenters to wear the hijab on air for the first time in September.
Edited translation from MENA
