AN EASYJET cabin manager has lost an appeal after being sacked for calling female co-workers “lovely ladies”.
Ross Barr was fired for gross misconduct after crew members and passengers logged multiple complaints about his inappropriate behaviour.
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He had worked for the airline for eight years, and defended his actions as “flirty banter”.
Mr Barr also claimed he was discriminated against or his sexual orientation, alleging it would have been accepted if “a gay colleague” have made the same remarks.
The former cabin manager appealed the decision to let him go at an employment tribunal, but lost.
Mr Barr began working at easyJet in 2014 and became a cabin manager in 2017.
He was hauled into a disciplinary hearing in 2022 and issued a final warning after a sexual harassment complaint.
More allegations of a similar nature were recorded against him in both 2023 and last year.
Customers also claimed he would refer to his team as “lovely ladies” over the PA system.
Passengers further reported he used the tannoy as an opportunity to perform his own comedy routines rather that conduct proper safety briefings.
Mr Barr had confessed to telling a stewardess “oh I have just brushed past your boobs” as he moved past her.
He was also overheard telling another cabin crew member on a separate flight: “I’m not doing anything.. I’m just staring at your ass.”
The comment was made in front of flyers, including young children, according to witnesses.
In another complaint, one woman said: “The entire shift pretty much he was talking about sex or making jokes about it.
“He explained that he had been suspended before due to a speak up speak out that someone previously put in against him because ‘all I said was that her tits would get bigger if she got pregnant, and guess what they did’.
“She also said that he had referred to her and another crew member as his ‘much more attractive colleague’.”
A different complaint was logged after he told a staff member “having a problem trying to stuff it in? Bet you’ve never had that problem”, while she was packing a bag.
Mr Barr argued he did not mean to make anyone uncomfortable and dubbed his comments “banter”.
He was sacked in September 2024 after the hearing but appealed the decision.
The former easyJet worker argued his case had been tainted by previous hearings.
But employment Judge Muriel Robison ruled: “As the cabin manager you are in a position of trust and I feel there has been a breakdown in trust in relation to these situations, you should conduct yourself in a manner that ensures your crew feel safe onboard the aircraft.
“This is not the first time you have been in this situation with regard to your conduct and comments made to female crew members.
“You raised that you were treated differently compared to others under similar circumstances due to your protected characteristics.
“My investigation did not uncover any evidence to substantiate this claim.
“It’s my belief the process followed was consistent and fair, and you were not treated any differently to your colleagues.
“On 19 March, 2024, you successfully completed training that included a thorough focus on diversity, inclusion and equality in the workplace.
“Despite this, your continued behaviour demonstrated a failure to uphold the values and principles outlined in this training.”
This comes after we reported how a mum was left furious after a British Airways flight attendant allegedly lifted her nursing blanket while she was breastfeeding her seven-month-old daughter.
Passenger Shayanne Wright made a sexual harassment complaint against the male host and said the incident left her feeling “violated.”
A British Airways spokesperson confirmed the allegations were being investigated and said the airline “have been in contact with our customer directly to resolve the matter”.
Wright said the airline did not apologise to her, however offered a $250 gift card, later increased to $1000.
