• austriantimes.at
• croatiantimes.com
• salzburgtimes.at
• viennatimes.at
• austrianindependent.com

© europics.at

12. 03. 10. - 12:00

• more Around the World news...
• RSS Feed Around the World

12. 03. 10. - 12:00

High Flyers

Kathryn Quinn

A Chinese airline has turned its back on female flight attendants to introduce a new all-male team.

The airline bosses say men have undeniable advantages over their female counterparts.

Yang Jianzhou, general manager of the Dalian Branch of China Southern Airlines, said: "Our male attendants are strictly selected from a large pool. They are just as patient and kind to passengers as females.

"More importantly they are cool-headed and physically strong. They can help passengers with heavy luggage, and are efficient."

Yang captained the new team's first flight from Dalian to Kunming.

During the flight, the attendants gave each female passenger a rose, and organised small games within the cabin.

Passenger Sun Meiling said: "They are really great. And of course, the journey is more enjoyable with some good-looking men to look at."

Yang countered suggestions of sexism by pointing out that only 72 of the 400 flight attendants working for China Southern Airlines' Dalian Branch are male.

He says the airline intends to steadily increase the number of all-male teams, adding that they are likely to be used for "key events like the Shanghai World Expo, the Asian Games, and major holidays."

Woman's torso found in basement
The torso of a woman was found at the basement of a block of flats in Botosani, northern Romania.

Football champions stranded in snow
Nine players from Romania's football champions team - who met Manchester United in the Champions League playoffs - have been stranded for over 20 hours on a train, after they had left Galati for Bucharest on Monday, it emerged today (Tues).

New Prime Minister forms his team
The new prime minister (PM) will present his team tonight (Tues), after consultations with the political parties.

Former deputy sentenced to 5 years in jail
Former Romanian Chamber of Deputies member Emilian Cutean, from the Social Democrat Party (PSD) was sentenced definitively to five years in jail by the Court of Appeal in Bucharest today (Tues).

Seven buses caught up in snow
Seven buses with 450 passengers were stuck in the snow for more than seven hours in southeastern Romania, last night (Mon/Tues).

Central bank hikes inflation prognosis
Romania's Central Bank Governor Mugur Isarescu said today (Tues) the central bank had hiked the inflation prognosis from 3 per cent to 3.2 per cent in 2012.

Millions of Euro losses per day due to snowy roads
Losses of as much as 100 million Euros per day are estimated by the Associtation of Importers and Exporters in Romania (ANEIR), due to the weather conditions, as tens of national roads are blocked by snow and blizzards.

AA introduces new flights from Bucharest to Vienna
Austrian Airlines (AA) announced today (Tues) that it would increase the number of flights from Romania in the summer season.

Anti-corruption chief prosecutor's mandate extended
The chief of the National Anti-corruption Department (DNA), Daniel Morar, has his mandate prolonged for another six months the General Prosecutor Codruta Kovesi, said today (Tues).

Romanians warned about Syria violence
Romanians are warned against travelling to Syria, the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) said today (Mon).