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Arabia
Air crew ordered by BMI not to wear crucifixes on flights to Saudi Arabia
2006-01-09
Air crew on the only British airline that flies to Saudi Arabia have been told not to wear crucifixes or St Christopher medals on flights there so as not to offend the country's Muslims. Stewardesses at BMI have also been told to cover themselves in the long abaya robes...one unnamed BMI employee told a Sunday newspaper: "It's outrageous that we must respect their beliefs but they're not prepared to respect ours. BMI are asking too much of their staff on this one. "My gran gave me a crucifix shortly before she died and I wear it at all times..." [The airline's spokesman said, ] "There are certain sensitivities in operating in a country like Saudi Arabia,"
Posted by:Crairong Omomotch6492

#10  JFM: Best comment ever!
Posted by: Mike   2006-01-09 17:43  

#9  Heh.

"Flights 93, 11, and 77, now departing San Diego and Norfolk, destination a bit west of the soon-to-be Republic of Eastern Arabia. Sortie arrival time, classified. Temperature at our destination is hot and bothered. Please fasten your jump seats and secure all personal items."
Posted by: Seafarious   2006-01-09 17:20  

#8  BMI is the only British carrier currently operating flights to Saudi.

Pity there is only one. There should be plenty, plenty carriers operating flights to Saudi: USS Eisenhower, USS Nimitz, USS John Fitzgerald Kennedy and many, many more
Posted by: JFM   2006-01-09 17:13  

#7  British Midland is a UK scheduled airline. The carrier is a member of the Star Alliance group of airlines. Members of this alliance include Air Canada and United (North America), Air New Zealand (Australasia), All Nippon Airways (Far East), Singapore Airlines and Thai (South East Asia), Mexicana and Varig (Central and South America), Lauda Air, Lufthansa, SAS and Austrian. Note some BD flight numbers may be operated by other Star Alliance members. Check with your agent to see who you're actually flying with.

Heathrow is the airline's major hub (Domestic and European flights). Transatlantic services are currently only operated from Manchester.

BMI is a second-tier airline, which has been fighting for years to achieve first-tier status like British Air and Virgin Airlines. They took over the Riyadh flights when British Air gave them up, and a few years began direct flights to Mumbai (Bombay). Lufthansa owns a piece of them, fwiw.
Posted by: trailing wife   2006-01-09 11:31  

#6  British Midland Airways - BMI: About Us page
Posted by: Seafarious   2006-01-09 11:23  

#5  George Galloway? Mohamed Al Fayed? I give up.
Posted by: Besoeker   2006-01-09 09:58  

#4  BMI is the only British carrier currently operating flights to Saudi. It began the service last September, offering three flights a week to Riyadh

Not long after the train bombings, FWIW.

Anyone know who owns the airline?
Posted by: lotp   2006-01-09 09:55  

#3  Sounds like it's time for a air route downsizing.
Posted by: Besoeker   2006-01-09 08:33  

#2  Well TW, muzzies have "sensitivities" don't ya know... Can't offend them, they might expode cry.
Posted by: Spot   2006-01-09 08:28  

#1  Aren't airlines sovereign territory? So as long as the crew don't get off the plane, what's the problem?
Posted by: trailing wife   2006-01-09 08:05  

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