Addressing Iata’s annual meeting, Qatar chief executive Akbar Al Baker was quoted as saying: "Of course it has to be led by a man, because it is a very challenging position,” the BBC and other national and international media outlets report.

His comments were all the more jarring with diversity and gender equality a theme of the 2018 Iata meeting.

Hastily backtracking, Al Baker said Qatar was the first carrier to employ female pilots and promote women to senior roles.

He added he would welcome a female leader, one he could “develop to become CEO” after him, he told Bloomberg.

However, he later took to Twitter, via the Qatar Airways account, to offer his “heartfelt apologies” for any offence caused by his comments, which he said “ran counter to his track record of expanding the role of women in leadership throughout the Qatar Airways Group”.

“Women comprise almost half (44%) of our workforce and the dedication, drive and skill they bring to their jobs tells me that no role is too tough for them, at all levels of the organisation,” said Al Baker.

“Qatar Airways firmly believes in gender equality in the workplace and our airline has been a pioneer in our region in this regard, as the first airline to employ female pilots, as one of the first to train and employ female engineers and with females represented through to senior vice-president positions within the airline reporting directly to me.

“Qatar Airways is made stronger by its female employees for whom I old nothing but the highest regard. I support all Iata initiatives to promote the advancement of women in our industry, and I am a strong advocate for these and will continue to be moving forward.”