Saudi airline says women must cover up

 Women could be stopped from boarding flights out of London if their clothing is too tight or they expose their arms and legs.

Saudi Arabian Airlines, the national carrier of Saudi Arabia, which operates services out of Heathrow, has imposed a strict dress code, stating those “clothed in a manner that would cause discomfort or offence to other passengers” will be considered to be in breach of their code of conduct.

The restrictions apply to “women exposing legs or arms, or wearing too thin or too tight clothes and men wearing shorts exposing legs” as well as passengers who are barefoot.

Saudi Arabia, which adheres to tenets of Islamic law, dictates a strict dress code. In public, women are required to wear an abaya (a long black cloak) that covers the entire body, except for the hands and face, while men are expected to dress conservatively.

The dress code is referred to within a list of rules published on the airline’s website about passenger conduct. A separate page, written in English and drawing attention to the dress code, yesterday appeared to have been taken down.

Ali Al Ghamdi, Saudi Arabia’s former head of tourism and health, said the dress requirements were issued by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). But an IATA spokesman said: “Dress code policy is entirely at the discretion of the airline.”