NO “HOSTESSES"

Evening Star, Issue 22571, 12 February 1937, Page 11

NO “HOSTESSES"

MALE STEWARDS PREFERRED British air line operators have no intention of following the American and Continental system of employing “air hostesses” on their machines. It has been found that the work required can be done as usefully by experienced male stewards. “ In all our air liners we employ two men to look after the needs of the passengers,” said a representative of imperial Airways recently. “ They are fully-qualified stewards, with long experience in ships or trains. Sometimes wo are asked why we do not have women stewards—or air hostesses, as the Americans call them—and the example of ships is quoted. Really the situation is not the same. A ship may be at sea for weeks, and a woman needing feminine help in an emergency would be in a serions plight if no women stewards were employed. In an air liner, even on the long-dis tance Continental routes, the machine is never in the air for more than about three hours at a stretchy and on landing at the official stopping places women officials are available.’ An official at Croydon aerodrome said that the only lines employing “ air hostesses ” were the Dutch, Sw:-s, and American. It has been announced that the Royal Dutch Air Line has decided to augment its staff of “ air hostesses.” This is contrary to the growing practice in America, where women are gradually being displaced by male stewards.