Air India is set to introduce a new health and compliance policy for flight attendants that are deemed underweight, overweight or obese.
From May 1, cabin crew must have a ‘desirable’ Body Mass Index (BMI) reading and meet specific fitness standards or face potential pay cuts and termination.
Under new guidelines, cabin crew must maintain a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 to meet the ‘desired range’ standard.
A BMI reading of less than 18 will be considered as ‘underweight’, though candidates may still be cleared if they pass a medical evaluation and functional assessment.
Cabin crew with a BMI reading in the range of 25-29.9 will be classed as ‘overweight’ – considered ‘acceptable’ only if the candidate successfully passes the functional assessment.
A BMI of 30 or above will not be accepted by the airline.
As per the policy, anyone with this reading will face immediate derostering and automatic loss of pay. They will have seven days to achieve the acceptable BMI.
Flight attendants that fall into the ‘underweight or ‘overweight’ category will be derostered until they clear the functional assessment.
From 1 May, Air India cabin crew must adhere to strict new health and fitness guidelines. Candidates who are considered overweight or underweight face loss of pay and termination
Individuals who do not pass the assessment will be suspended without pay until they receive clearance.
In its communication to staff, Air India said: ‘The initial launch aims to promote awareness of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and familiarise crew with the process of maintaining an appropriate weight category.
‘The current policy, in the interim, serves as a preparatory measure before the policy with enhanced fitness standards is implemented.’
The new rule applies to both active cabin crew and those undergoing training, as reported by The Economic Times.
It comes as part of a major internal shake-up, following Air India’s acquisition by Tata Group in 2022, which has seen much of the airline’s legacy staff phased out in the last four years.
The Daily Mail has contacted Air India for comment.
It’s not the first time an airline has been accused of punishing its staff for putting on weight.
In 2025, a former Emirates flight attendant claimed staff were given deadlines to lose weight if their uniforms looked tight – and would be sacked if they couldn’t do it in time.
Flight attendants must have a BMI reading of between 18.5 and 24.9 to meet the ‘desired’ range. Cabin crew with readings over 30 will be classed as obese
A former member of management who worked at the airline for almost six years, told the Daily Mail flight staff were enrolled into a ‘Weight Management Programme’ if their uniform didn’t fit right and ‘all it would take was for you to be seen by the wrong person’.
The luxury Dubai-based airline has a long-standing reputation of employing young, good-looking and thin staff.
The 38-year-old said while not everyone was attractive, looking good was almost demanded.
He said: ‘You associate that job with being young, beautiful and glamorous.
‘They were all put together in the same way and everybody had to have the exact same shade of lipstick, but it wasn’t a prerequisite to be beautiful.
‘But you got measured for your uniform and before each flight you had grooming checks. I had to check that the girls were wearing the correct nail polish, that the guys had the correct shoes and things like that.
‘If the uniform looked a bit tight, I had to report it and if they have to go up a size then they run the risk of going on a weight management programme.’
The remarks came after Emirates boss Sir Tim Clark denied when asked on Pierce Morgan Uncensored if ‘old and ugly men and women are banned from being employed.’
Mr Clark said: ‘We’re always trying to get the people who have all the qualities that we need to sustain our brand and advance our brand. That is empathy, that is the ability to work with people, work under pressures.
‘If it happens by coincidence they happen to be good-looking, well done.’
