ISLAMABAD, Feb 4: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Monday told the Supreme Court that physically unfit, obese or un-presentable crew members were harming its image and also doing disservice to them.

In a report on the suitability assessment of the flight crew, the airline submitted that the importance of cabin crew’s presentability was evident from comments, observations and suggestions made by the airline’s customers, adding that revenue generation was based on customer satisfaction and PIA, being no exception, had to follow policies practised by its competitors.

In a chamber hearing, Justice Muhammad Nawaz Abbasi had taken up the complaint of a number of female cabin crew against what they termed discriminatory attitude of the PIA administration which asked them to go on a forced leave on “biased and absolutely meaningless reasons” like dull and poor appearance, scars on face, big gap in the front teeth and the age-factor affecting looks. They have sought withdrawal of insulting remarks as well as letters of forced retirement.

On Monday, the PIA administration tendered unqualified apology on a contempt of court notice for grounding two of its flight crew despite a clear direction to maintain the status quo.

At the last hearing Justice Abbasi had taken a serious view when Advocate Sheikh Riazul Haq, representing the airhostesses, deplored that two of the senior crew members, Ms Naheed Azhar and Nayyar Yahya, had been grounded in violation of the restraint against the corporation not to fire the crew.

The General Manager, Human Resources, Karachi, Ms Uzma Bashir, who appeared in person and Advocate Shahid Anwar Bajwa represented the airline and assured the court that the two would be reinstated in a week.

A report presented by PIA contended that the suitability board comprising general manager of flight services, manager customer relations, chief flight surgeon and grooming officer had assessed the cabin crew who had attained the age of 40 years between June and July 2006. The crew were evaluated for grooming assessment, weight, uniform turnout, adherence to overall grooming standards, communication skills, medical assessment, punctuality and on-board performance.

The cabin crew were also informed of their shortcomings by the board, followed by letters advising improvement in specific areas.

The letters were issued to 73 cabin crew members.

About allegations of derogatory remarks made against and insulting treatment meted out to female cabin crew, the report said that the remarks highlighted in their complaint had been made verbally but the written version had been misinterpreted by them.

Odd duty hours and remaining away from their families for long durations, it said, applied to crew of any airline and formed part of their agreement with the airline to perform duties specified for the cabin crew.

They are adequately compensated by the airline management and the cabin crew are treated as privileged employee. The perks and privileges of cabin crew can be compared to those of Grade 20-21 government officials who are required to be much more qualified for the salary structure and privileges of that level.