quote:
An Indian court has ruled against a group of female flight attendants who were grounded from the national airline for being overweight.The court said that state-owned Indian Airlines had the right to take the step in the interest of flight safety and in the face of growing competition. [...]
"No airline can afford to remain lax in any department whatsoever, be it the personality of the crew members of their physical fitness," Justice Rekha Sharma said.[...]
The female judge also dismissed the flight attendants' contention that the airline policy towards their weight was an "insult to their womanhood".
"I do not understand how it is any way unfair, unreasonable and insulting to their womanhood if they are asked to control their growth."
The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says this is a part of a debate that is being carried out across Indian society, from the entertainment industry to now, the airline business - are Indians discarding traditionally-held ideals of beauty and appearance in favour of a more Westernised skinny look? [...]
The Indian airline industry has grown rapidly over the past decade and new private airlines have introduced an element of glamour, hiring young slim air hostesses, often dressed in short skirts and high heels.
In contrast, Indian Airlines flight crew are dressed in the traditional sari and are allowed to fly until they are 58 years old.
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posted 01 June 2007 09:03 AM
