Plane truth behind trolley-dolly brand (The Age – Australia)

October 28, 2011

A WOULD-BE flight attendant who had applied to Garuda Indonesia recently told a local newspaper that she and her fellow candidates had been subjected to a ”health examination” by a male doctor that involved having their breasts ”fondled”. According to a Garuda official, the ”hand examination on breast” was necessary to detect implants, which ”can have health issues when air pressure falls during flights”.

While not a practice common to other airlines, the incident is by no means unique in an industry that has long relied on female beauty and, in some cases, availability, to keep itself airborne.

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Indeed, when the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), which represents 600,000 aviation industry workers, complained to Ryanair three years ago about the calendar, the airline’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary, promised: ”We note ITF’s objection to the calendar. Rest assured this has encouraged us to produce an even bigger and better charity calendar for next year.”

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Read the complete article in The Age (Australia): http://www.theage.com.au/national/plane-truth-behind-trolleydolly-brand-20111028-1mo51.html#ixzz1c7JcZBgT