A Chinese airline, Spring Airlines, has caused an uproar with recent plans they have introduced to require the flight attendants to dress as maids and butlers, according to the Shanghai Daily Report.
The new uniforms were unveiled as part of a series of themed flights. What began as an attempt to attract passengers has failed as the airline has been criticized on social media web sites.
Bloggers have suggested that the airline would be better off to spend it's time making sure flights are on time, services are improved and tickets are cheaper, rather than worrying about dressing flight attendants in revealing uniforms.
"The airline should respect their crew members because flight attendants are still quite different from maids and butlers," wrote one blogger.
There was also concern about the health risks of the uniforms, which included short skirts and high heels. The airline was also accused of objectifying flight attendants with the promotion, prompting a response from the airline.
"Thank you for your feedback!" the airline wrote in a statement. "We'll never objectify any of our staff.
"In fact, this idea came from our international crew of qualified Chinese, Japanese and Thailand cabin staff," the airline continued.
The airline has posted pictures of the new uniforms on their Facebook page. They have used the social media site for on-board costume ideas in the past, receiving suggestions ranging from school uniforms to superhero villains.
Spring Airlines is not the first low-cost carrier to receive criticism for objectification of flight attendants. The Thai airline Nok Air published a raunchy calendar showing its female crewmembers in hot pants and bikinis and Ryanair released charity calendars featuring scantily clad flight attendants. Vietnam airline VietJetAir faced fines for allowing beauty pageant contestants in bikinis to dance on board a plane as part of a promotion.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
