"Red-Cloaked" Low-Cost Airline’s First Taiwanese Flight Attendants Make Debut

▲Taiwan’s first batch of budget airline flight attendants, dressed in red and black uniforms, made a stunning and stylish debut. (Photo / Provided by the company)

Reported by Chen Tzu-yin / Taipei

Currently, most flight attendants on low-cost airlines flying to Taiwan are from the airline’s home country. But now, a new group

At the end of last year, AirAsia X, the long-haul subsidiary of low-cost carrier AirAsia, recruited flight attendants in Taiwan, sparking quite a discussion. The iconic red-uniformed, cheerful and energetic AirAsia flight attendants have been infused with new Taiwanese blood, adding a touch of the warmth and friendliness characteristic of the Taiwanese people. Among the thousand applicants, 16 Taiwanese flight attendants stood out and underwent rigorous “boot camp” training. In the future, passengers on AirAsia X flights will be able to see the bright smiles of 12 of these stewardesses.

In response to many people’s concerns about the safety of low-cost airlines, Cho Chih-ling, a Taiwanese flight attendant at AirAsia X, said: “AirAsia has designed a 54-day elite training program for all new flight attendants, which also includes multiple water survival training sessions. Our standards for flight safety are absolutely on par with those of traditional airlines. Additionally, the company has added comprehensive practical drills to help us quickly get familiar with in-flight services. During the training, although I sometimes felt discouraged because of homesickness, fortunately, I had the support of fellow Taiwanese trainees. In the end, we all passed the rigorous tests, received our graduation certificates, and officially became flight attendants.”

Optimistic about the growth potential of Taiwan’s tourism industry, AirAsia X was the first among low-cost carriers to recruit the first batch of Taiwanese flight attendants late last year, aiming to establish a long-term presence and expand its market share in Taiwan.