PC Air takes off with 4 transsexual flight attendants
By Reuters
BANGKOK - Thai airline PC Air set its first proving flight from Bangkok to Surat Thani province today four transsexual flight attendants on board.
[Slideshow: Transsexual flight attendants]
PC Air president Peter Chan said the airline set out to hire only male and female flight attendants but they had a change of heart when they received more than 100 applications from transvestites, transsexuals, as well as men who had changed their gender.
The carrier ended up recruiting four transsexuals, as well as 19 female and seven male, as their cabin crew. PC Air said the qualifications were the same as that required of female flight attendants, which include femininity and attractiveness.
Mr Chan first announced PC Air's decision in January, saying the airline's transsexual staff will be given a "third sex name tag" while on duty.
"I'm a pioneer, and I'm sure there will be (other) organisations following my idea," Mr Chan was quoted as saying then.
PC Air's four transsexual flight attendants are 24-year-olds Ms Chayathisa Nakmai, Ms Dissanai Chitpraphachin and Ms Phuntakarn Sringern, and Ms Nathatai Sukkaset, 26. They are believed to be the world's first transgender flight attendants.
