Branson airline accused of discrimination against older women

An Australian budget airline launched by billionaire Richard Branson had discriminated against eight women who had applied for flight crew jobs because they were older than 35, a state watchdog found today.

The women were experienced flight attendants aged 36 to 56 when they applied for jobs with the Virgin Blue domestic airline which was launched in Australia by Branson in 2000.

They complained to the Queensland state Anti-Discrimination Tribunal that they did not get past the first stage of the interview process because of their age.