Strange world

Published on Monday 21 January 2008 21:40

AIRLINE WARS

FLIGHT attendants in Thailand are demanding that a new television soap opera is taken off the air because it makes them look too sexy.

Entitled The Air Hostess War, the show, which broadcast its first three episodes last week, tells the story of the private lives of a group of air stewardesses, one of whom has an extra-marital affair with her pilot. The various love triangles lead to fighting in the aisles and steamy sex scenes at stopovers.

Now the trade union representing Thai air crew is demanding the culture ministry and the TV station that broadcasts the show (which is run by the armed forces) cancel the programme.

"This soap opera is insulting and damaging to the reputation of flight attendants," said Noppadol Thaungthong, a Thai Airways flight attendant leading the union's action.

"It's all about sex and air hostesses beating each other up in the cabin because of love and jealousy. This kind of thing never happens."

A spokesman for the television company responded: "The producer says the soap opera reflects all sides of the profession."

Thai Airlines' advertising slogan is "smooth as silk". It received the coveted Skytrax award for the World's Best Cabin Staff in 2006.