By Sri Lankan Airlines has found itself embroiled in a significant racism scandal, with pilots and crew members lodging a formal complaint against an Air Belgium pilot and crew. The incident transpired during the operation of UL Flight on April 30, as documented by the Daily Mirror.
Amidst considerable financial challenges, Sri Lankan Airlines took the decision to lease two aircraft from Air Belgium in December, with the aim of fortifying its fleet. Presently, these leased aircraft are deployed on various routes originating from Colombo, including destinations such as Frankfurt, Dhaka, Dubai, Paris, and Chennai. As per the terms of the leasing agreement, Air Belgium manages these routes, with personnel from both airlines comprising the crew roster.
On April 30, during the scheduled flight UL 501 from Colombo to Paris, a disconcerting episode unfolded at Bandaranaike International Airport. Sri Lankan Airlines pilots, anticipating their boarding to proceed to alternate destinations, were informed at the check-in counter that business class seats were unavailable, with only one seat remaining. This deviation from established protocol, wherein pilots are customarily allocated business class accommodations for flights aimed at retrieving their aircraft, triggered initial discontent among the Sri Lankan Airlines personnel.
The situation was further exacerbated by allegations that the Air Belgium crew had upgraded passengers to business class without notifying their Sri Lankan counterparts. Refusing to acquiesce to perceived mistreatment, Sri Lankan Airlines pilots opted not to board the flight. This refusal reportedly elicited racial abuse from the Air Belgium pilot, identified as Captain Philippe Enneken, who purportedly threatened to offload the Sri Lankan pilots if they failed to comply within five minutes.
Tensions escalated when Captain Philippe, via a public announcement onboard, made derogatory remarks targeting the Sri Lankan Airlines pilots, singling out one as a ‘big fat captain’. A video recording obtained by the Daily Mirror captured these unsettling exchanges, including the pilot’s assertion that Belgian law would govern affairs onboard the aircraft.
Subsequent allegations surfaced, hinting at a recurring pattern of racism and misconduct exhibited by the Air Belgium crew toward Sri Lankan passengers, which included instances of beverage refusals and allegations of theft onboard.
In response to the incident, Sri Lankan Airlines launched an internal investigation, soliciting statements from affected crew members and pilots. The Airline Pilots Guild of Sri Lanka (ALPGSL) issued a formal statement expressing regret over the incident and condemning the actions of Captain Philippe Enneken. They have escalated the matter to relevant authorities, urging prompt action.
Consequently, the fallout from the incident has led to escalating tensions between Air Belgium and Sri Lankan Airlines personnel, compelling UL pilots to explore alternative means of positioning for long-haul flights, thereby incurring supplementary costs for the airline. Furthermore, objections have been raised regarding the exorbitant cost of leasing Air Belgium flights, particularly in light of the limited revenue generated by the routes.
With the lease agreement slated to expire on May 15, uncertainty looms over its potential extension, as Sri Lankan Airlines navigates the aftermath of this troubling episode, endeavoring to maintain standards of professionalism and inclusivity amidst turbulent circumstances.
Source: Daily Mirror
