An Indian court yesterday ruled that Air India is allowed to fire flight attendants that are overweight according to the airlines’ standards.
Air India implemented maximum weight standards based on height, gender, and age already a couple of years ago. But the issue has been brewing in courts ever since.
The court justified their decision saying that a flight attendant has to be fit to be able to deal with any emergency.
But it is suspected that Air India’s decision is not solely based on their concern about the fitness of their attendants. It is well known that newcomers in the Indian skies have used the sexy looks of their flight crews to attract passengers. And the new airlines have had the advantage of being able to consider looks already at recruiting. Air India’s dilemma as a long established airline is that they have a more mature staff.
But Air India’s decision to discriminate based on weight seems anyway ruthless, inconsiderate and outdated. The airline has earlier indicated that it will not hire flight attendants with acne or bad teeth.
The weight controversy also raises questions about many other airlines in the world. Could it be that airlines like Singapore Airlines also are practicing discrimination? Or is it just a coincidence that all of their flight attendants happen to have such great looks and be in such perfect shape?