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Chinese airline targets ‘Flight Aunties’ in recruitment drive

It seems that not only young and beautiful girls can make it into the competitive world of flight attending in China after all. A recent move by Shanghai-based Spring Air, China’s biggest budget carrier, will give preference to hiring married women with kids.

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A Spring Airlines' flight attendant chats with passengers on board an Airbus A320 at Hongqiao airport in Shanghai. Photo: Reuters

 It seems that not only young and beautiful girls can make it into the competitive world of flight attending in China after all.

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A recent move by Shanghai-based Spring Air, China’s biggest budget carrier, will give preference to hiring married women with kids, according to a report.

I think it’s good that the airline is doing this. It helps the dynamics of the crew because the older ones have more life experience, making them more mature and reliable, whereas the younger ones are more enthusiastic

These unusual conditions to hire what the airline terms ‘flight aunties’ points towards an attempt to diversify the profile of its 600-strong flight attendant workforce.

The public relations value of ‘flight aunties’ is significant, considering its departure from the airline’s controversial move earlier this year, when it dressed its flight attendants in coquettish maid uniforms.

It also goes against the greater trend amongst big Chinese state-owned carriers, which have hosted pageant-style competitions to choose new flight attendants.

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Spring Air said that it is seeking college-educated females aged between 25 and 45, adding that those married with children are given top consideration. The previous age cap for new hires was 35.

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