China’s fourth-largest carrier, Hainan Airlines, has been forced to defend a brand new policy that imposes weight restrictions on its flight attendants. Despite a social media backlash, the brand new policy is one element of a series of latest cabin crew appearance guidelines issued by the carrier that has not gone down well with some.
Controversial policy
Hainan Airlines has been forced to defend imposing latest weight requirements on its flight attendants. The airline’s vigorous response follows reports of the brand new policy being shared across social media platforms and sparking a public backlash.
As reported by CNN, the furor has blown up after Chinese state-owned media reported that the carrier, China’s fourth largest, had introduced a brand new policy at the beginning of this month threatening to ground flight attendants should their weight exceed what the airline refers to because the ‘.’
Photo: Hainan Airlines
In keeping with Global Times, the controversial policy formed a part of a more comprehensive set of latest guidelines for cabin crew regarding their appearance. In keeping with the report, the ” is reportedly calculated as a function of weight versus height.
By means of an example, a Hainan Airlines flight attendant measuring 158 centimeters (5.1 feet) is required to remain inside 48 kilograms (105 kilos). That is the common height for an adult woman in China. The airline’s guidelines effectively set a ‘standard weight’ for any given height to which cabin crew must adhere.
Should any flight attendant exceed the usual weight for his or her height by 5%, they may have their weight monitored monthly and undergo regular reviews, in accordance with the policy. Meanwhile, those exceeding the usual weight by greater than 10% face immediate suspension from flying duties and will probably be placed on what the carrier calls a ‘ supervised by cabin crew management.
Hainan defends the policy
In an announcement issued by Hainan Airlines, the carrier vehemently defends the brand new policy imposed on its crews. While the airline confirmed within the statement that it was using ” but said that this applied to all flight attendants no matter gender.
Photo: Hainan Airlines
Several users have identified that the role of a flight attendant is physically demanding. On condition that to be the case, the flexibility to perform that role and the worker’s strength and stamina should take priority over being forced to take care of a low weight, especially since a crew’s first job is safety. This is especially pertinent in emergencies, where the flight attendant’s priority is keeping passengers protected.
An other way of travel
Hainan’s seemingly archaic policy comes just as other airlines worldwide chill out their rules over cabin crew (and other employees’) appearance.
Photo: Qantas
Other airlines which have been leading the best way in revolutionizing flight attendant appearance guidelines in recent months include British Airways, while in April, Alaska Airlines was forced to alter its gender-specific uniform policy for flight attendants following a discrimination lawsuit.
Probably most notable on this arena has been Virgin Atlantic. Last September, the airline became a pioneer when it announced that its staff, including pilots, cabin crew, and the bottom team, could select which Vivienne Westwood-designed uniforms best represented their gender identity and expression.
Photo: Virgin Atlantic
While increasing numbers of airlines are clambering to embrace inclusivity amongst their staff, other airlines proceed to lag behind on this field.
In 2015, Air India ordered 125 flight attendants to drop a few pounds or face consequences. Pakistan’s national airline, PIA, ordered all cabin crew to abide by weight limits or face being grounded in 2019. It will seem that Hainan Airlines is selecting to opt out of the trend toward promoting inclusivity for all with its latest policy – for now, not less than.
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