"Uniform Feels Tight... Fired for Gaining Weight," Former Flight Attendant Reveals

If a uniform looks tight, employees must be enrolled in the management program
Some claim there were even "weight police"

A former Emirates Airlines flight attendant has sparked controversy by exposing the reality of forced dismissals due to weight management during employment. On September 21 (local time), the British Daily Mail reported on an interview with Mr. A (38), who worked as a manager at Emirates Airlines for six years. According to the report, Mr. A stated, "Flight attendants who gained enough weight to feel their uniforms were tight were enrolled in a 'weight management program,'" and added, "If they failed to lose weight within the set period, they were sometimes dismissed." Mr. A confessed, "Not everyone was beautiful, but paying attention to appearance was considered an essential requirement."

Getty Images

The airline instructed all employees to wear the same shade of lipstick and regularly inspected uniform compliance. Even before flights, attendants' nails and shoes were checked. Mr. A said, "When I was a manager, I had to check the manicure color of female attendants and the condition of male attendants' shoes one by one," and added, "If a uniform looked even slightly tight, I had to enroll that employee in the weight management program."

Emirates Airline. Pixabay

In particular, attendants enrolled in the program had to manage their diet with a nutritionist and lose weight within a designated period. If they failed to do so, Mr. A emphasized, they were either removed from flight duties or dismissed. Mr. A added, "Personally, I didn't want to report these things, but there was a strong sense of accountability from above," and continued, "In the end, even managers became subjects of surveillance themselves."

Emirates Airlines: "Flight attendants have extensive responsibilities; maintaining physical health is extremely important"

This system led some attendants to repeatedly undergo extreme dieting and experience the yo-yo effect. In fact, one attendant reportedly lost weight excessively in a short period every time weight loss was ordered. Mr. A lamented, "There could have been healthier ways, but that attendant loved flying, and the flight schedule was the top priority."

A former Emirates Airlines flight attendant has sparked controversy by exposing the reality of forced dismissals due to weight management during employment. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Pixabay

Furthermore, Mr. A pointed out another issue: the forced retirement policy at age 50. He said, "Being a flight attendant is a physically demanding job, but it's hard to understand why retirement is forced at 50," and added, "There was no support system in place for life after retirement." Maya Dukaric, another former Emirates Airlines flight attendant, said, "There were 'weight police,'" and added, "They would stop attendants at the airport and say, 'You need to lose some weight.'"

This revelation reportedly came right after Emirates Airlines Chairman Sir Tim Clark denied in an interview that the company forbids hiring older or less attractive women. In response to the former employees' claims, an Emirates Airlines spokesperson stated, "We prioritize the well-being of our employees," but added, "Flight attendants have extensive responsibilities. Maintaining both physical and mental health is extremely important for ensuring safety."