So, how much have flight attendants changed since the 1930s? As air transportation has evolved with major concerns about safety, service, comfort, and other factors, so have flight attendant roles. Their titles have also changed. From “flying nurses” to “air hostess” to “stewardess” to “flight attendant” and “cabin crew” today. The titles evolved as a result of their changing roles in the air, with them wearing more hats than before. We now examine how flight attendants have evolved over time.
A brief history of how flight attendants have evolved
In 1912, the first cabin crew member was a flight steward named Heinrich Kubis, a German who served passengers on the Zeppelin. He was also the only steward aboard the Hindenburg when it caught fire. He escaped by jumping off when it was close to the ground.
Ellen Church, a registered nurse, aspired to be a commercial airline pilot in the 1930s. Unfortunately, the Boeing Transport Company only accepted men because flying was thought to be a man’s domain. This did not deter Ellen Church from pursuing her dream, and she suggested to Boeing Transport that flying nurses could make passengers more comfortable, as flying was relatively new and uncomfortable at the time. Ellen Church recruited eight other nurses after the company liked the idea. They took to the skies, ushering in the era of the flight attendant.
The “ladies of the skies” no longer needed to be nurses when their role changed from flying nurse to flying hostess in the 1950s. As more airlines opened, competition became fierce, and air hostesses or stewardesses were the prize. They were dressed to the nines and flying with celebrities and the wealthy. They needed to stay trim and fit. They were not permitted to fly if they did not comply. The air hostess was responsible for attracting more passengers, particularly men. Above all, the air hostesses were not even permitted to marry! This was the golden age of air travel, and the elite ruled it.
At the time, being a flight attendant was considered “glamorous.” Traveling the world, flying with the elite, and being in the presence of celebrities
How disasters throughout the years have changed the role of flight attendants
Airlines had to make their stewardesses look even more glamorous and beautiful because they know that wealthy men prefer to see attractive women. Beautiful stewardesses on board were a unique selling point for the airlines. While serving passengers, the stewardesses were even trained to walk like models!
The role of stewardess has evolved over time, particularly in the aftermath of air disasters. They were taught how to use the aircraft’s safety features. They have been trained to evacuate passengers as quickly as possible. Safety was prioritized over comfort and glitz. As this role evolved, males were hired as stewards, and the cabin crew job was no longer limited to women.
This role also resulted in the transition of terms such as air hostess to flight attendant and stewardess to cabin crew. Furthermore, the female movement advocated for the abolition of the use of stewardess as a sex symbol to attract passengers. Flight attendants were given the primary responsibility of ensuring safety, especially after some hijacking incidents. As far as safety is concerned, flight attendants must now be perceived as highly professional.
Yes, the flight attendant’s roles have expanded significantly, from nurse to hostess to airline marketing tool to safety professional. They are not only safe and comfortable, but they are also the first line of defense if someone tries to take over the cockpit.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
