Dubai: Etihad Airways said on Friday it does not fire pregnant cabin crew in response to an attack by US-based trade union on actress Nicole Kidman for her brand ambassador’s role with the airline.
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), which represents 25,000 American flight attendants, had said in an open letter written by President Laura Glading that the advertisement deal conflicts with the Australian actress’ role as a UN women’s goodwill ambassador, the Australian Associated Press reported Thursday. Last month, Etihad announced Kidman was the face of its latest brand campaign.
But on Friday, the airline said in a lengthy statement emailed to Gulf News, ‘Etihad fully supports its cabin crew during and after their pregnancy. When a cabin crew member informs Etihad of a pregnancy, she is provided with appropriate ground duties for the duration of their pregnancy.
‘During this time, she is full compensated and fully engaged on the ground. Cabin crew are also entitled to paid maternity leave if they have completed more than one year’s service. Our cabin crew are then able to return to their flying role at the end of their maternity period.’
In her letter, Glading wrote: “Last month, on March 8, International Women’s Day, you said, ‘I envisage a world where all women and girls have equal opportunities and rights ... Now is the time to step it up”.
“Later that very same week, we saw that you had begun appearing in a new campaign for Etihad, a company that the ‘Wall Street Journal’ has publicly reported ‘may fire women if they become pregnant’ and forces flight attendants to live in ‘confinement’ in secure compounds.”
Last December, the then Vice-President of Guest Services at Etihad, Aubrey Tiedt, told ‘Wall Street Journal’ pregnant crew members can continue to fly for the first three months but then leave or move into a ground job, if available.