Indian airline to only recruit female flight attendants in order to save money on fuel

Indan budget airline GoAir has decided to recruit only air hostesses from now on instead of the 'heavier' male flight pursers.

The idea is to lighten the aircraft to reduce fuel burn because of increased operating costs. GoAir currently has 330 cabin crew members, 40% of whom are males.



Every additional kg on board costs Rs 3 (£0.03, $0.05) per flight hour. With an air hostess weighing about 15-20 kg (33-44 lbs) less than a male flight purser, Go expects to save about Rs 2.5 crore (£275,000, $420,000) to Rs 3 crore (£330,000, $500,000) annually.

The airline's 130-odd male flight pursers will keep flying but future cabin crew recruitments will all be female. "We are looking at every possible way of cost-cutting to remain profitable," GoAir CEO Giorgio De Roni said. The airline has also reduced the size of in-flight magazines and potable water tanks are no longer being filled to capacity, De Roni added.