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Date Published: 24/06/2024

Spanish airline refused to board passenger because her cleavage was showing

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Vueling was fined 28,000 euros for leaving the mortified passenger stranded at Palma de Mallorca Airport

Spanish airline refused to board passenger because her cleavage was showing

Spanish budget airline Vueling has once again come under fire, this time for refusing to allow a female passenger to board a flight due to her choice of attire. The case, which occurred in 2019, has now been wrapped up in court and the airline was slapped with a hefty fine, sparking discussions about discriminatory practices and sexist dress codes.

The events unfolded at Palma Airport in Mallorca as the woman was about to board a Vueling flight to Barcelona. A handling crew member informed her that she would not be permitted to fly due to her clothing, which consisted of a low-cut bodysuit that revealed her cleavage. Despite pleas from fellow passengers to let her on board, the airline stood firm, leaving the woman stranded and understandably mortified.

The consumer rights group Facua took up the case, filing a complaint against Vueling with the Spanish Aviation Safety Agency (AESA). Facua argued that the airline’s actions were discriminatory and sexist, violating the passenger’s rights by leaving her “completely defenceless in front of other travellers.”

According to Facua, there are no regulations that expressly prohibit passengers from boarding based on their clothing choices, provided it does not cause a public order issue.

AESA agreed with Facua’s assessment and Vueling was slapped with a 28,000 euro fine, the details of which have just been released by the Spanish company. The agency found that the airline had violated several articles of Law 21/2003 on Air Safety and other European regulations. While Facua expressed satisfaction with the outcome, they also called for higher fines, considering the volume of business and profits of the airline industry.

This incident is not an isolated one for Vueling. Just over a year ago, the carrier was fined 30,000 euros by the Catalan government for enforcing strict dress codes on its female flight attendants, requiring them to wear makeup and high heels. Following the backlash, Vueling reassessed its policies, ultimately allowing female crew members to work without these restrictive requirements.

In other news: Barcelona will ban holiday apartments by 2028

Image: Vueling

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