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Ladyboys too hot to handle
From immigration questions to worries about social acceptance, many airline executives show they are not ready to hire the third gender.
While the start-up carrier PC Air has defied an industry norm by hiring four transsexuals as flight attendants, more established airlines in Thailand are reluctant to follow suit.
The four ladyboy flight attendants for PC Air, which plans to launch its inaugural flight on Dec 24. BOONSONG KOSITCHOTETHANA
Senior executives of several leading carriers, who spoke to the Bangkok Post on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter, were not quite ready to bring the third gender on board.
The executives acknowledged the airline industry has not openly adopted them for frontline service.
While Thailand has a relatively high level of social acceptance of male-to-female transgenders, executives said they see the adoption as more problematic than good, but admit it could be a positive marketing gimmick.
PC Air, the privately owned Thai charter airline due to start commercial operations this Saturday, garnered extensive international publicity by billing itself as the world's first carrier to employ "ladyboys" as cabin attendant.
The top constraint executives listed was these transgenders being listed as male on their ID cards. Many immigration officers have a liberal outlook, but they could be stopped or refused entry in more conservative countries.
Their passports will list them as male, and countries with strict rules like China and Arab nations may be puzzled or confused and less likely to offer a smooth passage. This could potentially affect airline flight operations.
Executives also admitted several airlines were too conservative to let ladyboys be associated with their brand image.
"Though social acceptance of transsexuals is increasing, there is still a cultural barrier for them in our society," said an airline veteran with over 30 years experience.
"A lot of our passengers, especially conservative Thais with families, may shun flying with us."
Another senior executive of the same airline asked: "Do you see other established service-related enterprises like five-star hotels openly embracing katoeys as staff ? No."
"While they are more visible at cosmetics shops and health stores in Thailand, it does not mean they will be welcomed with open arms in other service sectors anytime soon," she added.
"What is the point of hiring transgenders as cabin attendants?" an airline founder asked.
"There are thousands of men and women who are eager to accept these jobs," he added.
Transgenders often don't make it past the first step in the application process because of their identity, an executive of a no-frills carrier pointed out.
Most airlines, even PC Air, state the gender they want when hiring _ male, female or both _ and anything in between is disqualified by screening officers.
PC Air made an exception by specifying ladyboy applicants have qualifications similar to female attendants. The ladyboys are to be like women in how they walk and talk, having a feminine voice and the right attitude.
But a few executives felt transgenders would work harder to prove their professionalism and skill on the job.
Piyo Chantraporn, the 48-year-old president of PC Air who prefers to be called Peter Chan, said management prides itself on its equal-opportunity policy for transsexuals, repeatedly denying the transgender recruitment was done for the sake of publicity.
Among its first batch of 30 cabin attendants are four transsexuals, 19 females and seven males, all of whom were officially certified.
One of the four transgenders is Thanyarat Chirapatpakorn, who was crowned Miss Tiffany Universe 2007 and is best known as a model and soap opera actress who uses the name "Nong Film".
Nong Film, who was featured prominently in PC Air's advertisements, said getting a cabin attendant job fulfilled a childhood dream.
"It's a dream come true and I will work hard to prove my professionalism," said the 23-year-old.
PC Air has one jet, an Airbus 310-222, and plans to acquire two more wide-body planes, likely A300-600s, in the second quarter of next year as it aims to become a scheduled flight operator.
http://www.bangkokpo...o-hot-to-handle
Damn I wish I was Japanese! 
