A flight attendant has been fired, after weighing just over 700g. Her case was transferred to court due to arbitrary dismissal. Malaysia Airlines hostess, Ina Melissa, has been working with the airline for nearly 25 years.
Malaysian "The Edge Markets" reported that, according to the company's policy, flight attendants had to ensure that the BMI was in the "healthy" range. For Melissa, who is 160 centimeters long, this means that her weight should not exceed 61 kilograms.
The hostess's contract was terminated when she was found to weigh 61.7 kg, to file a complaint against the company for what she called an arbitrary dismissal; but a Malaysian court ruled in favor of Malaysia Airlines at a hearing on February 14. The court president, Noah Nazir, said the court was convinced that the company provided the plaintiff a great opportunity to comply with the company’s policy, “Despite the many opportunities, the host has always failed to maintain the optimum weight.” The court found that the airline was clear to employees regarding weight policy, and how it was necessary to "maintain its image as a premium airline."
The Malaysian Airlines informed the court that Melissa had missed the dates set for the examination, in addition to not achieving the optimum weight, and that the company had been offered advice by a specialist.
Her lawyers have unsuccessfully argued that major airlines, such as "Quntas", "British Airways" and "Lufthansa", did not have the permissible weight limit for workers on the plane, and that a weight less than a kilogram would not prevent the host concerned from doing its work properly.
- The Malaysian Airlines informed the court that Melissa failed to meet the dates set for the examination, in addition to not achieving the optimum weight, and that the company was offered advice by a specialist.