In-flight kung fu for Chinese airline

In an attempt to boost security, Sichuan Airlines is recruiting female flight attendants with martial arts skills to work on a new route between Chengdu in western China and the South Korean capital, Seoul.

As well as being aged between 18 and 24 with a knowledge of Korean, skilled in singing and dancing and of "nice appearance" the new flight attendants will be trained as "part-time security guards" on the flights. "There's no specific type of martial art we require, it could be kung fu or tae kwon do," said Cai Chao, a Sichuan Airlines spokesperson.

More than 500 women attended the first round of interviews in Chongqing on Thursday. One interviewee described the competition for the jobs as "harsh", with applicants expected to have a college diploma as well as martial arts training. But the women were also judged on the way they looked. "We do emphasise a nice appearance. They should make a good impression on the passengers," said Mr Cai.