Recruiting in China

Chinese airlines are recruiting older cabin crew as they believe they are more patient and considerate than the younger flight attendants traditionally preferred.

The trend is seeing more married women over 35 being taken on as domestic airlines raise their upper age limits.

“Married women look kinder, are more considerate and can serve passengers better than their younger counterparts,” said Zhang Wu’an, spokesman for locally based budget carrier Spring Airlines.

Demographics also play a part in the trend, as flight attendants already employed by the airlines get older, he added.

Spring Airlines launched a recruitment campaign yesterday, mainly targeting married women up to 45. Some 3,000 women — including 2,000 mothers aged around 35 — have applied, said officials.

“We will mainly evaluate their kindness and patience, while their appearance won’t be so important,” said Xiao Fei, human resources department director with the airline.

With Spring Airlines, a flight attendant can be promoted to chief attendant within two years with annual salary of more than 100,000 yuan (US$ 16,338), Zhang said.

Among those seeking a job with the airline is 34-year-old Lang Xiaohua, who has worked as a travel agency manager.

“My 10-year-old daughter is growing up and it’s time to realize my own dream,” Lang said.

She said she felt confident her work and life experiences would stand her in good stead.

Among other Chinese carriers, China Eastern Airlines has upped the age limit for new flight attendants to 32.

Chinese airlines are short of cabin crew due to the rapid expansion of routes and fleets.

A downside of the airline industry boom is frequent flight delays, leading to conflict between staff and passengers.

Last month, two Beijing passengers were detained for 10 days for pushing flight attendants and damaging boarding gates during a five-hour delay.

And in Shanghai, a crew with locally based Juneyao Airlines claimed last month that a flight attendant was slapped by a passenger during a delay.