Air India may find itself roiling troubled waters as it permanently grounds 130 flight attendants who failed to meet its standards for weight and height, and speculates that an all-female cabin crew would save money because women weigh less, on average, than men.
The 130 were part of a group of 600 warned last year that their BMI (body mass index) was too high. The airline made a similar cut a number of years ago. Air India claims that it’s a matter of safety…who can move faster in an emergency.
Two years ago, the airline speculated on a possible savings of about $500,000 from a lighter, all-female crew. The national carrier has struggled financially in recent years, and has also had trouble recruiting new staff: a recent hiring fair drew no applicants. For more details from The Guardian (UK), click HERE
