Other Asian, Australian and South Pacific Frequent Flyer Programs - AI : Shed weight or jobs, crews told !!!

Interesting to see this. I wonder though what can be done in 2 months? If people can become slim from obese in two months, that trick would be a blockbuster in the western countries.

On a serious note, wouldn't this be giving rise to any discrimination law suits? How are the aviation labour laws in India?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4530914.stm

If this is seriously implemented, I guess a good number of crew would be on their way out :)

- BT

If you take a look at the Jet Airways crew, they're generally (based on my limited experiences with them) very fit and young. I imagine India, like Singapore, can get away with such practices because of the labor laws.

On a serious note, wouldn't this be giving rise to any discrimination law suits?

The last time AI enforced this policy, the case went all the way up to the Supreme Court and the airline prevailed. The people who do not lose weight are NOT being fired but rather "reassigned to ground duties". For crewmembers who make most of their $ in flying hours and allowances, that is the financial kiss of death though.

If you take a look at the Jet Airways crew, they're generally (based on my limited experiences with them) very fit and young. I imagine India, like Singapore, can get away with such practices because of the labor laws.

Labor laws in India are some of the most cumbersome in the world, but court rulings have allowed employers to have age and "health" limits for various positions and transfer employees in line with such.

As B747 noted, last time the airline won too.

The last time AI enforced this policy, the case went all the way up to the Supreme Court and the airline prevailed.

Did AI bring out a similar policy or was it exactly the same? How did they enforce it and what was the result? Just curious as to at what point did the lawsuit arise? Was it filed as soon as the enforcement notification came or was it when it was actually enforced?

Thnx,
BT

Even in the US, with appropriate advice from labor attorneys, employers can enforce wt requirements for jobs. You often cannot fire employees but assign them other duties if they are over weight for the positions involving flying and special responsibilities (negotiating in narrow galleys, etc.) It is a different matter if union contracts do not allow employers to do so.