India, April 16 -- According to media reports, in 2014, for the first time, the country's aviation regulator issued guidelines to ensure that no overweight or obese person is employed as a flight steward or an air hostess. According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), this was necessary since Rule 38B of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, states that cabin crew must remain medically fit to discharge duties during flight operations.

The Economic Times quoted the DGCA as saying, "Taking into consideration the ageing process and the requirement of agility to perform cabin safety duties efficiently, the frequency of medical examinations has been prescribed."

As per the new regulations reported in the media, cabin crew up to the age...