Saudia enforce strict dress code

A Saudi Arabian airline warned that passengers may be refused boarding for not complying with its dress code.

Saudia, the Saudi Arabian flag carrier, announced its dress code for both male and female passengers in a bid to prevent “discomfort or offense to other passengers.”

The statement stipulates that women must not reveal their arms or legs, or wear too thin or too tight clothing. Men are forbidden from wearing shorts exposing legs.

It goes on to warn that the airline “may refuse to transport passengers, or may remove passengers from the flight at any point for not complying with its dress code.”

The move has attracted both praise and condemnation on social media under the hashtag #SaudiaAirlines.

One Twitter user agreed with the rule, tweeting: “I am not obliged to see such clothing in public spaces, great decision on the part of the airline.”

Whilst others complained that passengers unaware of the policy would be forced to either buy new clothes at the airport or risk being denied boarding.

Earlier this year, United Airlines made headlines around the world after denying two young girls from boarding for wearing leggings.

The girls were “pass riders” – a term used for United employees or their eligible dependants standing by on a space-available basis.

United defended the gate agent’s decision stating that leggings are “not in compliance with our dress code policy for company benefit travel.”