Airline Set to Monitor Cabin Crew's Weight and May Cut the Pay of Those Who Do Not Fall into Required Range
Airline Set to Monitor Cabin Crew's Weight and May Cut the Pay of Those Who Do Not Fall into Required Range
Escher WalcottMon, March 30, 2026 at 3:40 PM UTC
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Air India planesCredit: Satyabrata Tripathy/Hindustan Times via Getty -
Air India has reportedly launched a new policy where cabin crew's pay could be affected by their BMI readings
The new policy, effective May 1, will see staff outside the acceptable BMI range of 18 to 29.9 face leave without pay if they fail to meet requirements within 60 days
The policy follows Air India's record $1.6 billion annual loss and aims to promote staff health and fitness
Air India has introduced a new policy that may result in pay cuts for cabin crew members who gain or lose weight, according to reports.
Cabin crew will face leave without pay if they are underweight or overweight based on Body Mass Index (BMI) readings following its new Cabin Crew Health and Fitness Compliance Policy, which takes effect on May 1, The Economic Times and New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV) reported.
Per the outlets, BMI readings ranging from 18 to 24.9 will be regarded as normal and fine to fly. Any reading less than 18 will be defined as “underweight," and a reading between 24.9 and 29.9 will be regarded as "overweight," although those with those BMI readings may still be fine to fly, "subject to clearing of medical evaluation and functional assessment."
Meanwhile, a BMI of 30 and above would be regarded as "obese," and cabin crew with that reading would have to bring their weight within the range that is deemed acceptable, the outlets note.
BMI readings will be conducted before and after flights.
Airline staff with BMI readings outside these measures will be removed from flying rosters and sent for medical and functional evaluation for seven days. If cleared, the cabin crew can resume work duties, but if not, they will be placed on leave without pay, per NDTV.
The Economic Times, citing Air India's new policy, notes, "In case the member fails to pass the assessment, then he or she will be placed on loss of pay till the clearance happens. For cabin crew members who are found to be 'obese', the immediate action will include derostering and loss of pay. Such people will have to achieve the acceptable BMI within a certain number of days."
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Air India cabin crewCredit: Richard Baker / In Pictures Via Getty
The controversial new policy has reportedly been launched to promote a healthy lifestyle among staff and maintain 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 policy continues, per the outlet.
Staff members whose BMI readings are 30 and above must take medical tests, including blood sugar and lipid profile checks and an assessment of underlying health risks, according to NDTV.
An Air India jetCredit: Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty
Air India will give staff outside their acceptable BMI range 30 days to return to a “normal” BMI range. If they do not meet the criteria in that time, they will receive a formal caution letter. If staff still don't comply with the regulations after another 30 days, a final warning will be sent, the outlet notes.
PEOPLE has reached out to Air India for comment.
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Air India's new policy comes after the airline lost around 150 billion rupees ($1.6 billion) for the year ending Tuesday, March 31, Bloomberg reported. The loss comes as a result of airspace closures and the response to the deadly Air India plane crash in June 2025.
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