THE COMMISSIONER for the rights of the child is investigating Cyprus Airways’ breastfeeding policy after the airline reportedly tried to remove the mother of an infant from a flight to Athens on Tuesday.
According to the daily Politis, two allegedly “angry” airline attendants denied the mother’s request for a seat that would allow her privacy to breastfeed her five month old baby, insisting she remain in her allocated seat.
The indignant mother reportedly refused, then proceeded to upgrade herself to the more private business class.
In response, the captain allegedly called for her removal from the plane, which was averted after a fellow economy passenger agreed to swap seats.
Cyprus Airways roundly rejected Politis’ “defamatory and totally misleading” version of events yesterday, and sought to reaffirm the airline’s commitment to breastfeeding mothers and the rights of the child.
The statement said: “Cyprus Airways fully respect motherhood and the sacred right of in-flight breastfeeding and never refused or prohibited any mother from breastfeeding her baby on an airplane of the Company.”
It added that thousands of mothers have breastfed on board Cyprus Airways flights and that: “Pilots and flight attendants demonstrate utmost respect towards mothers, especially when nursing their babies. (Cyprus Airways) offers every assistance and care throughout the course of the journey.”
Regarding Tuesday’s incident, the airline said: “The facts are quite different from those reported.”
The airline claims that its flight attendants were in the process of finding a more suitable seat when the couple – and their baby – moved to the front of the business class area without informing anyone or getting permission – Something against the airline’s policy.
According to their version of events, requests to move the couple back to their seats for take-off, led to “turmoil and confusion”, upsetting neighbouring business class passengers.
Eventually, the airline claims, the matter was resolved when an attendant suggested that passengers in aisle 4, immediately behind the business class area, swapped seats.
The issue has now been reported to Cyprus’ commissioner for the rights of the child, Leda Koursoumba, who will examine the incident and is expected to produce a report with recommendations in the next two months.
Asked about the incident Koursoumba told the Cyprus Mail: “We have received a complaint and will be looking into it.”
Speaking more generally about the issue, Koursoumba said: “It is a question of (the airline) operating within a framework of childrens’ rights: The mother has to serve the child’s interests firsts and … Feeding her child is a primary right. This means airlines should have a policy that can accommodate feeding with dignity… within reason.”
However, Koursoumba also said that mothers should specify their needs when booking or checking in.
