Airline orders cabin crew to lose 'excess weight' in six months

A leaked memo has revealed an airline threatened to ground crew members who did not lose “excess weight” on their bodies.

The memo was distributed to about 1800 cabin crew members who work for Pakistan International Airlines, warning them they had six months to slim down to required limits or they would not be given clearance to fly.

CNN reports the memo, which was issued on January 1 and obtained by local media, was 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 two kilograms a month, depending on a person’s height.

For example, a “medium frame” woman who is about 170cm tall would ideally weigh 60kg to 66kg, CNN reported.

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

Mashhood Tajwar, an airline spokesman, told CNN only around five per cent of the crew would need to lose weight by July, as others were fit enough to hit their weight mark.

The memo came when standards for crew members’ weight had lapsed, and was issued to ensure that flight attendants are “slim, smart and fit”, according to Mr Tajwar.

He also said the airline had received complaints about “obese” flight attendants.

Mr Tajwar told CNN 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.