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Journalism of Courage
Shape up or fly out. Literally. That8217;s the message the courts have sent out to the portly cabin crew of Indian Airlines, who have been grounded for being overweight. The chubby airhostesses are protesting against what they see as a brutally unfair judgement, one that goes against the natural shape of the Indian female.
The overweight airhostesses should do some introspection and thank their stars for the good run they8217;ve had till now, before private carriers emerged in India with new standards of professionalism. All international carriers have height and weight requirements of cabin crew. Some don8217;t hire hostesses above a certain age. The agile 20-somethings in tight short skirts and heels on private flights can hardly be held solely responsible for eating into Indian Airlines8217; pie, but the realisation has dawned that shaping up, in every way, is a matter of commercial survival for the national carrier. Some of the hostesses on Indian Airlines and Air India have held their jobs since the 8217;80s, way before hostesses on some private airlines were even born! In the highly competitive business of aviation, if an airline doesn8217;t want a fat air hostess lumbering down a narrow aisle, can it be called discrimination?
Airlines, reeling under the impact of escalating fuel costs, are coming up with innovative schemes to check ticket costs. The most recent one being contemplated is the less you weigh, the less you pay. Are the chubby crew listening?
