Qatar Airways notified after model files allegation of fatphobia on flight

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The federal government’s Senacon (National Consumer Secretariat) notified Qatar Airways this Tuesday (29) after a plus-size model accused the company of discrimination in Lebanon.

Last Tuesday (22), model Juliana Nehme says that she tried to return from the country to Brazil through the company, but that she would have been prevented from boarding at an airport because she was “too fat”, according to her reports on social networks.

“The Qatari stewardess said I can’t board because I’m too fat and I don’t have the right to this ticket,” said Juliana in a sequence of videos still at the airport. “They are denying my right to travel.”

The airline informed the report that Juliana flew back to Brazil on Thursday and sent a note in which she states that she “treats all passengers with respect and dignity”.

“Anyone who makes it impossible for another passenger to make room and is unable to fasten their seat belt or lower the armrests may be required to purchase an additional seat both as a safety precaution and for the comfort of all passengers,” it said. the company.

The company would have required the model to buy an executive ticket, which would cost US$ 3,000 (R$ 15,900).

Failing to make the purchase, she and her mother remained in Lebanon, and her sister and her nephew returned — they were touring the country and would still have a connection in Doha, Qatar, before returning to Brazil.

For having missed the flight, according to Juliana’s testimony, she and her mother would still need to pay a fine to the company to reallocate the ticket.

Also on social media, activist Rayane Souza, founder of Gorda na Lei, commented on the case.

“It is obvious that we are facing a situation of fatphobia. It is a right denied by the weight factor”, he said. The project was in contact with Juliana last week.

“Senacon is investigating whether there has been an infraction in the provision of services by the Qatar Airways Group, since the company’s conduct may affect countless Brazilian citizens under the same conditions as the consumer in question,” said the Brazilian agency on Monday.

The secretariat also asks for clarification on what measures will be adopted to eliminate such practices. The airline must respond to the agency within ten days.

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