Court rules banning pilots with beards from flying ‘legitimate’

SEOUL,  (Yonhap) — A South Korean court ruled Thursday that Asiana Airlines Inc.’s decision to ban pilots from growing a beard is legitimate, adding flight operators have the right to control the appearance of their employees to uphold quality service to passengers.

“Customers’ satisfaction and trust on flight operators’ service and safety can be considered as important factors,” the Seoul Administrative Court said. “It is reasonable for them to regulate workers’ outfits and looks in a wider scope compared to other companies.”

The ruling came after the country’s No. 2 flight operator banned one of its pilots from flying for nearly 30 days as he refused the company’s order to shave his beard in September 2014.

The pilot was allowed to return to the cockpit only after he promised to no longer grow a beard.

A local labor commission earlier said the legitimacy of Asiana Airlines’ decision can be questioned as it did not earn a majority support from its labor union. But the flight operator again filed the case to the Seoul Administrative Court.

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