TORONTO – Flair Airlines is facing intense scrutiny and its ground handling partner, AGI, has issued an apology after a Winnipeg Muslim woman, Kazi Amin, claims she was “humiliated” by being forced to remove her hijab at a Toronto Pearson Airport gate before a June 20th flight. The incident has ignited a conversation about religious accommodation in air travel and led to formal complaints.
Amin’s daughter, Afsara Raidah, explained that the issue arose when a Flair attendant took issue with her mother’s passport photo, taken years before she began wearing a hijab. Despite being informed of the hijab’s religious significance, Amin alleges she was yelled at and forced to uncover her head publicly, a deeply distressing experience she likened to undressing.
This alleged procedure contradicts guidelines from the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), which stipulate that religious head coverings usually don’t need removal for screening, and private rooms should be available if a physical search is required.
Flair Airlines CEO Maciej Wilk confirmed that the individual involved was employed by AGI, their ground handling partner, stating that discrimination is not tolerated. AGI has apologized, and the employee is on leave pending investigation. Wilk emphasized that both Flair and AGI provide training in human rights and religious accommodation.
However, Amin and Raidah find the response inadequate and are pursuing legal counsel, having filed complaints with both Flair and Transport Canada. Raidah described the incident as “100 percent Islamophobia.” The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) has also weighed in, calling it a “serious violation of religious freedoms and basic rights” and announcing its legal team’s involvement. The NCCM’s statement stressed, “There is no room for Islamophobia in Canada’s airports or airlines, period.” The incident highlights the critical importance of ensuring staff across the travel industry are fully aware of and respectful of diverse religious practices.