Union objects, AI scraps Women-only crew plan for NY flight

Women serving the Maharaja lost to men on the eve of International Women’s Day. On Sunday, Air India changed its plan of operating a Mumbai-New York flight with only women as crew, following objections by the cabin crew union, the All India Cabin Crew Association (AICC).

Women serving the Maharaja lost to men on the eve of International Women’s Day.

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On Sunday, Air India changed its plan of operating a Mumbai-New York flight with only women as crew, following objections by the cabin crew union, the All India Cabin Crew Association (AICC).

To celebrate Women’s Day, the national carrier had originally planned to operate the 14-hour flight that leaves Mumbai at 1.30 am on Monday with only women as crew members. However, the AICC opposed the move, citing a Supreme Court judgement that states that women crew cannot operate the flight bar.

“The judgement says airhostesses cannot perform the functions of the purser,” said an airline official requesting anonymity. “The focus is that women will be charge of the cockpit. The flight will have two male flight attendants so we do not violate the court order.”

There are six other flights, where alcohol is not served, that will be operated by all-women crew on Monday.