A couple months ago a purser mentioned to me that, effective May 1, 2012, the inflight translators were being eliminated from TPAC and intraAsian flights (I don't think they've ever been used on TATL). Their roles will be taken over by official language-of-destination FAs. Has anyone seen how this is working? I presume part of the change is that the newly reconfigured language specialists will perform more general FA duties, without it being a separate position and distinct role as the translators were.

The translators were the original NW Asian cabin crew, AFAIK starting with the Japanese FAs who changed into kimonos, at least in FC, made announcements, served tea, welcomed Asian passengers, and frequently took meal orders in FC and WBC. They worked hard; I frequently noticed them tidying the FC and WBC restrooms after each use in addition to all the bowing and smiling. Sometimes the translators and more generally Asian flight attendants were treated badly by the USA-based cabin crew, who resented the loss of attractive flight assignments to the (IIRC nonunionized) Asian nationals based in Asia who worked for lower salaries. The Japanese FAs were happy when kimonos were eliminated and replaced by regular FA uniforms. My most recent TPAC had a fifty-ish male translator in BE who has worked for NW/DL for decades.

Does anyone know whether the Asian translators were generally offered new positions as language of destination specialists or more generally Asian-based FAs?