Now hear this! To all those “mamarus” who keep saying that there is no growth in being a flight attendant, Japan Airlines (JAL) has recently appointed its first female President, who started out in the airline as a flight attendant. Mitsuko Tottori joined JAL in 1985 as a flight attendant and then worked her way up to senior management. She will become President of the airline beginning April 1.
Tottori’s first promotion came in 2005 when she became the manager of the 1st Cabin Attendant department of JAL. In 2013, she was promoted to senior manager of the cabin safety department. In 2015, Tottori became the senior director of the 2nd cabin crew affairs and 1st cabin attendant department. Currently, she is the senior vice president for customer experience until April 1, when she will finally become president of the airline.
Empowering Women in the Workplace
The newly appointed president, who addressed this issue in a news conference, emphasized the challenges faced by female employees in advancing their careers or navigating significant life events. She expressed hope that her appointment would inspire and encourage women to take bold steps in their professional lives. This appointment is a beacon of hope for many striving for gender equality in the workplace.
The timing of this leadership change is pivotal for JAL as it seeks to bounce back from the pandemic-induced downturn. With tourists returning to Japan, the airline is poised for a resurgence. However, safety remains a paramount concern, especially following a recent incident at Tokyo’s Haneda airport involving a collision between a JAL plane and a Japanese Coast Guard aircraft. Fortunately, all 379 people on board the airliner were unharmed, despite the aircraft bursting into flames.
JAL’s statement highlighted the new president’s extensive experience and deep understanding of safety operations and service. Her expertise is crucial for the airline’s commitment to passenger safety. The current president, Yuji Akasaka, will take on the role of chairperson while retaining his position as a representative director. Yoshiharu Ueki, the present chairman, will retire in April and leave his director position, pending shareholder approval in June.
JAL has set an ambitious target of having women comprise 30% of its managerial positions across the group by the end of the fiscal year in March 2026. As of March 2023, women held 22.8% of these roles. This goal reflects the airline’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive and diverse corporate culture.
There is Growth in Being a Flight Attendant
Flight attendants are essentially the main “frontliners” of an airline, being the ones who most frequently interact with passengers. Their duties help them develop their customer service skills, particularly in communication and interpersonal relations. Also, as individuals who play multiple roles on the aircraft, flight attendants learn to multitask, make quick and effective decisions under pressure, and become better team players.
While any common person might think that the job is too routine, I believe it always depends on your character and attitude towards the job. For some flight attendants, each day is seen as an opportunity for new learnings and experiences, as not all flights are the same. And for those who aim to rise through the ranks, each day and each flight is a chance to learn something new and to improve constantly.
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!
