Female passengers flying with Saudia Airlines warned to cover arms and legs or risk being turned away from plane
The national carrier of Saudi Arabia has issued a strict dress code about which parts of male and female passengers’ bodies should be covered
COMFY clothing is the main priority of most plane passengers, but those travelling with one Middle Eastern airline now have a few extra clothing requirements.
Saudia Airlines has warned passengers that it will refuse boarding to anyone it doesn’t consider has dressed appropriately.
The airline has issued a strict dress code that says which parts of male and female passengers’ bodies should be covered.
The national carrier of Saudi Arabia – a staunchly conservative country that doesn’t allow bare arms or legs on women or any men wearing shorts.
A message on its website that passengers must not be “clothed in a manner that would cause discomfort or offense to other passengers.”
According to Saudia Airlines, that offensive clothing includes: “Women exposing legs or arms, or wearing too thin or too tight clothes and men wearing shorts exposing legs.”
The airline has come in for some criticism for its dress code from people who called it medieval.
A Twitter user called Sluznost Zabiji said: “Saudi Airlines are fanatics.
“Your culture forces women into submissive clothes that cover faces, and bare arms are offensive?
#avoidSaudia.”
However, other seasoned travellers welcomed the move.
Another tweeter called Guy Burden said: “A welcome move.
“I am tired of people next to me in [with] shoes and socks off, jogging pants and crop tops. Uugh.”
Ali Al Ghamdi, the former Saudi head of tourism and health told a Saudi newspaper that clothing requirements were issued by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and that different airlines applied them in different ways.