AW/Feature:
On the occasion of “International Cabin Crew Day 2022,” Megha Singhania,Head of Cabin Crew Department with Air Asia has shared an authored article highlighting the role and contribution of cabin crew in successful operation of a flight and factors that makes her job so special and attractive.
Working in the Air
The Covid-19 pandemic triggered an ironic if not an unusual pattern amongst millennials and the Gen Z crowd. People across the world were quitting jobs by the dozen and were in search of newer spaces where communication, recognition and growth were in sync with their ability to maintain a personal life. Working as part of the Tata Group is nothing short of a privilege and an honor, owing to the brand’s distinction as one of the most employee-friendly conglomerates that evokes a sense of trust, credibility, and integrity worldwide. With the opportunities and work-life balance that the aviation industry brings with it, millennials and Generation Z are leaning towards being a part of the cabin crew. This is because being employed as a cabin crew member requires a collaborative effort where all members are working towards a single solid goal – to enhance guest experience. Each member clearly understands the duties assigned and is trained to assist their fellow crew in activities for a safe flight. This team-player environment enables the workforce of today to look forward to being cabin crew aspirants more than ever. Becoming an AirAsia India cabin crew member extends beyond a service role – the airline has the highest safety rating of 7/7 with a zero-incident report from airlineratings.com. It is a role and lifestyle that is inspirational and coveted across the world, with extensive travel and flying allowances for the crew and immediate family.
Millennials and Generation Z want to feel connected to the people they work for. They are willing to stick with a company if they know they can grow, have authentic communication, receive recognition, and are free to be creative and autonomous.
Unlike the desk job, being a cabin crew member does not require chasing deadlines to complete a project. Your work is structured as per your flying roster, and you can plan your personal life accordingly. Besides this, you have the most beautiful office at 35000 feet above sea level with an opportunity to work with different people every day. Traveling to beautiful destinations and exploring new cultures and cuisines is a bonus.
Challenges Ahead
The aviation industry is known to be dynamic. One of the major challenges that millennials will have to face is adapting to the nature of duty that the industry demands. To counter this, airline companies have provided schedules where one does get the sufficient rest needed. Time management and the ability to be agile is therefore a key solution to adapt to timelines not known to industries outside.
Being in the best of your health is of paramount importance. This is because every individual takes to the problem of jetlag differently. While some are not affected as much, others require an extended amount of time to recover. As a cabin crew, millennials and Gen Z would encounter this concern and would have to train themselves in addition to the solutions provided by the airline. Patience and passion are the other two important factors that may get challenged from time to time. Flight delays and bad weather are some of the testing times. To be calm and composed in a crisis is a trait of being a cabin crew member. A passionate mindset that “I am not an individual when wearing my uniform but a brand ambassador” surely helps an individual to overcome these challenges and deliver excellent customer service, empathize with guest needs and find ways to go above and beyond to help our guests.
Industry Trends 2022
With the recovery of the airline industry in full swing and governments across nations lifting travel restrictions, millennials are flocking towards being a part of the cabin crew journey. While the biggest lesson from the pandemic is that predictions can go wrong, experts have predicted that travel will see an upswing from this year onwards at a gradual pace.
By integrating digitalization to minimize the need for physical interactions, airlines are now pushing for a touchless experience. Face to face interactions between airline members and passengers would eventually decrease, thereby improving safety and sanitization. Operations such as automated check-ins, biometric facial recognition, e-boarding information are some of the upcoming trends that people would experience in the coming years.
( Views expressed are personal)
