Australian airline crews demand a fair go

Do the cabin crew on your aircraft seem tired and jaded?

It might be because they are.

On International Cabin Crew Day, which is today, the Flight Attendants' Association of Australia (FAAA) is launching the “Fatigue Doesn’t Fly” campaign urging the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to introduce mandatory flight time and rest regulations for cabin crew.

Teri O'Toole, federal secretary of the FAAA is calling on CASA to give cabin crew a fair go.

“We only want what cabin crew all over the world have, including our colleagues in Sierra Leone and Bangladesh, some of the recognised poorest countries in the world," O'Toole says.

"Singapore, one of the few countries with flight lengths comparable to those of Australian crew, has had regulated flight time limitations (FTLs) for long-haul flying since 2017.

“Aligning with international standards will not only enhance safety but also ensure fair and consistent working conditions across the industry. Our aviation safety authority should have oversight and protections for all stakeholders in aviation, not just pilots. Relying on safe standards for fatigue risk should not be left to bargaining in Enterprise Bargaining Agreements.

"Health and safety should be mandatory and regulated, not something that relies on sitting down every four years to bargain for. We are calling for a much-needed permanent regulatory safety net.

“Our cabin crew travel the same distances and spend the same time in the air as pilots but are suffering without the same safety net when it comes to rest and scheduling. Why do pilots have better rest facilities on board than cabin crew? Because it’s mandated by CASA.

"Both cabin crew and pilots are human and should have the same consideration for how they take their rest on board."

O'Toole points out that cabin crew members are multi-skilled professionals trained in safety, fire, evacuation, and medical emergencies.

Captain Tony Lucas, president, Australian and International Pilots Association notes: “Our cabin crew are first responders in the event of an onboard emergency or medical situation. Just as a minimum of two well-trained and well-rested pilots are required for every flight, having well-trained and well-rested cabin crew are a vital part of the safety management process dealing with emergencies.”

Find out more at https://fatiguedoesntfly.com.au

Image: Jetstar

No fatties: meet the airline clamping down on overweight flight attendants

Chinese carrier Hainan Airlines is at the centre of a storm after it imposed body weight limits for flight attendants. 

The airline has been subject to criticism after it introduced a new rule which requires cabin crew to weigh no more than a ‘standard limit’ or face grounding, Travel Mole reported. 

The rules cover a height and weight ratio and attendants 5% or less over the limit will have their weight monitored monthly. Those heavier would be grounded and put on a "weight-reduction plan",  Chinese media reported.

The airline says the rule applies to both males and females.

The standard is ‘based on the human body weight reference and matched with the healthy weight range measurement for the crew’ the airline said.

“This is intended to advocate healthy living habits and maintain a good professional image and healthy physique.” 

The rule has sparked angry responses on social media, heavily critical of the airline.

CNN, meanwhile, reported that other Asian airlines have made headlines in recent years for imposing weight rules on cabin crew. They include Air India and Pakistan International. 

Airline fires tardy cabin crew over failure to vaccinate

Hong Kong-based international airline Cathay Pacific has sacked cabin crew who failed to get vaccinated against Covid-19. 

The airline had set an August 31 deadline for cabin staff to provide proof of vaccination or face disciplinary action.

On September 1, it began proceedings against an estimated 80 unvaccinated cabin crew who had not presented vaccination proof or medical exemptions for not receiving the vaccine.


The airline said it let go "a small number' of cabin crew employees.


"It is clear to us all now that Covid-19 is a terrible virus and that keeping our customers, communities and families safe is of the utmost importance," the airline told The Standard newspaper.


"The pandemic has also had a huge impact on us operationally and border controls around the world have dramatically reduced our ability to operate with unvaccinated aircrew."

Bravo! 

Cathay said all its flights have been operated with fully vaccinated crews as standard since September 1.


The airline's ground crew have until October 1 to supply vaccination proof or a valid exemption.