British Airways cabin crew behaviour is under the spotlight again after it emerged that two of the airline’s staff have been suspended for cyber bullying a colleague.
The two accused cabin crew were members of a WhatsApp group, where they allegedly shared fat-shaming comments about a colleague who was not part of the conversation. After being shown the messages by a concerned co-worker, the crew member in question became too frightened to attend work due to the nature of the comments.
“The poor victim of the merciless fat jokes has been left utterly bereft. She had no idea her colleagues had such disdain for her. The cruel comments left her scared to leave the house. She felt victimised. This was repugnant bullying,” an unnamed source reported in British tabloid, The Sun, remarked.
Encouraged to report the incident to British Airways, the crew member, said to be in her twenties, did so. This led to the instigators of the unpleasant messages being suspended and removed from the flight roster, meaning some flights subsequently operated with a smaller team than usual. Five other staff members are understood also to be under investigation for their part in the WhatsApp behaviour.
If found to have carried out bullying, those responsible are likely to lose their employment with the British flag carrier, whose spokespersons stated: “We have a zero-tolerance approach to bullying and always fully investigate any allegations brought to our attention.” In March, two BA stewards were fired after sharing racist tropes about Asian flyers and imitating Asian customers in social media posts.
The role of air steward has been notorious in the past for its strict adherence to rules around personal appearance, with certain hair and make-up styles traditionally “approved” over others. Certain types of facial hair have raised questions, with the crew members ability to wear a well-sealed oxygen mask prioritised.
British Airways has relaxed its rules in recent years, with a recruitment drive that encouraged piercings and tattoos and urged crew members to “be themselves”. In 2019, the cabin crew director for Polish airline LOT was fired after criticising British Airways staff appearance, including their weight and their teeth.
But most important to the role is the staff member’s fitness to carry out particular physical tasks related to their duties. The employee’s weight does not enter into the equation, as long as the person in question has a vertical function reach of 2.01 metres, and a diagonal reach meeting airline safety standards.
