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Air India Bans Fat Stewardesses

A court has ruled that Air India is within its rights to fire overweight stewardesses. The airline ended up on trial after they instituted strict weight limits for their 1,600 flight attendants. Several of the grounded cabin crew members sued arguing that they're weight doesn't affect their ability to do their jobs, but the court ruled in favor of the airlines.

The BBC summed up the court's position:

Overweight crew present a safety and health hazard ... In the highly competitive airline industry, an air hostess's physical condition and appearance played an important role in her overall personality.

Air India, whose FAs wear traditional saris, has been facing increased competition from newer airlines with staffed with scantily clad flying hotties. According to a Scottish newspaper, one of these flashy carriers, Kingfisher Airlines, "boasts young, mini-skirted hostesses in scarlet stilettos."

Related Stories:
· India Grounds "Fat" Air Hostesses [BBC]
· You're Too Fat to Fly, Court Tells Hostesses [Scotsman]
· Flight Attendants coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of a Kingfisher FA: Tawheed Manzoor]