Careers: How to Become an Air Hostess or Purser?
Who is an Air Hostess or Purser?
Air hostesses (also known as cabin crew or flight attendants) are responsible for ensuring the safety, comfort, and overall well-being of passengers during commercial flights. They assist with boarding procedures, deliver safety instructions, serve meals and beverages, and manage in-flight services.
While the term “air hostess” is commonly used for women, the role is gender-neutral and is often referred to as “cabin crew” or “flight attendant.” Male crew members may also be referred to as stewards.
A Purser is a senior member of the cabin crew who takes on additional responsibilities such as coordinating between crew members, managing inventory, ensuring protocol compliance, and serving as a liaison between the cockpit and cabin. Pursers often have more years of experience and receive higher salaries.
Skills Required to become an Air Hostess
To succeed in this profession, a candidate must have a pleasant personality, strong communication skills, and the ability to stay calm under pressure. They should be courteous, service-oriented, and able to handle difficult passengers or emergency situations with patience and professionalism.
Other important traits include confidence, attentiveness, personal grooming, emotional intelligence, and physical stamina. Fluency in English is essential, and knowledge of other languages is a valuable advantage, especially for international airlines.
How Does One Get There?
Aspirants can begin their journey after completing Class 12 in any stream. While not mandatory, a degree or diploma in hospitality, tourism, or hotel management adds an edge, especially for premium airlines. After school, candidates typically enroll in certified air hostess training programs where they learn grooming, voice modulation, inflight etiquette, emergency procedures, and first aid.
Major airlines conduct their own recruitment drives, often including written tests, group discussions, and interviews. Height and eyesight requirements may vary slightly by airline, but most require minimum height (around 155–160 cm for women and 170 cm for men), a proportionate weight, good eyesight (with or without correction), and medical fitness.
Prospects
The aviation sector continues to expand, particularly in Asia and the Middle East, with the launch of new airlines and increased international connectivity. Job opportunities exist with domestic airlines like IndiGo, Air India, Akasa Air, and Vistara, as well as foreign carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Lufthansa.
Starting salaries range from ₹25,000–₹40,000 per month with domestic carriers and can go up to ₹75,000–₹1 lakh for senior-level staff. In international airlines, pursers and senior crew members can earn ₹2–3 lakh per month or more, depending on experience, routes, and allowances.
In addition to the salary, flight attendants enjoy perks like free or discounted travel, layover allowances, hotel accommodations, and bonuses.
The Changing Role of Cabin Crew
Modern-day cabin crew members are trained beyond just hospitality—they are safety professionals certified in emergency response, aviation security, and crisis handling. With a growing focus on passenger experience and safety, airlines now look for well-rounded, emotionally intelligent candidates who can multitask and adapt quickly to dynamic flight conditions.
Leading Training Institutes for Air Hostess Programs
Below is an updated and verified list of reputed air hostess training academies:
| Institute Name | Locations / Mode | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Frankfinn Institute of Air Hostess Training | Pan-India | www.frankfinn.com |
| Indira Gandhi Institute of Aeronautics | Chandigarh | www.igiaindia.in |
| Aptech Aviation and Hospitality Academy | Pan-India | www.aptechaviationacademy.com |
| Airborne Air Hostess Academy | Delhi, Jaipur | www.airborneairhostessacademy.com |
*Note: Most of the airlines recruit students with the relevant aptitude and are trained in-house.
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