SÜDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG (Germany)
COLOGNE - A German court has ruled that male Lufthansa pilots must continue to wear their hat with their uniform at the airport – even though the same policy does not apply to female pilots at Lufthansa, the Süddeutsche Zeitung daily reports.
A male Lufthansa pilot had filed a suit against the German airline claiming that it was unfair that female pilots were not required to wear their pilot hats with their uniform in the airport while male pilots were obliged to. He won the suit, but the airline appealed the decision and a court has now ruled in its favor.
Süddeutsche Zeitung notes that Lufthansa’s internal regulations state that hat-wearing is optional for female pilotst. The pilot brought suit because he considered this a violation of equal rights.
The court's decision stated that the hat was an integral part of the uniform which was different for men and women. Women pilots could wear skirts, while men couldn’t -- and that did not infringe on male pilots’ rights.
The male pilot also claimed the hat was uncomfortable and took up space. Lufthansa argued that it corresponds to the historic image of male airline pilots -- and looks good to boot!
