Airline gives cabin crew 6 months to lose 'excess weight'

Wage cuts? What about calorie cuts? Pakistan International Airlines threatens crew members that if they don’t lose weight, then they will be grounded. (Photo: Fabrizio Gandolfo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Wage cuts? What about calorie cuts? Pakistan International Airlines threatens crew members that if they don’t lose weight, then they will be grounded. (Photo: Fabrizio Gandolfo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Although “excess weight” may make your luggage charge increase, Pakistan International Airlines is now threatening some crew members with being grounded over “excess weight” on their bodies.

CNN reports that a memo was distributed to approximately 1,800 cabin crew members who work for the airline, warning them that they had six months to slim down to required limits — otherwise, they would not be given clearance to fly.

The memo, which was issued on Jan. 1, 2019, and obtained by local media, is from the airline’s general manager, Aamir Bashir. In it, the airline seemed to make a mandatory New Year’s resolution for the crew, insisting that flight attendants must lose 5 pounds a month, depending on a person’s height. For example, a “medium frame” woman who is 5’7″ would ideally weigh 133 to 147 pounds, CNN reported.

“Weight check of all the cabin crew will be carried out at their base stations respectively & comprehensive data will be maintained for perusal of Management,” the memo said.

Pakistan International Airlines issued a memo to its cabin crew to lose weight. (Photo: ARY News)
Pakistan International Airlines issued a memo to its cabin crew to lose weight. (Photo: ARY News)

Mashhood Tajwar, an airline spokesman, told CNN that only around 5 percent of the crew will need to lose weight by July, as others are fit enough to hit their weight mark. According to Tajwar, the memo came when standards for crew members’ weight had lapsed, and was issued to ensure that flight attendants are “slim, smart and fit.”

He also said the airline had received complaints about “obese” flight attendants. Tajwar told the news outlet that the policy was for “both” appearance and health, and that “no one would like to have shabby crew in the aircraft.”

Yahoo Lifestyle has reached out to the airline for comment and will update this post when we hear back.

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