Inspiring people, indeed.
The fetishization of flight attendants has existed for almost as long as planes have soared the skies, so perhaps it should be no surprise that Cathay Pacific flight attendants’ uniforms – including the skirt, the shirt, the apron, and the jacket – can go for HKD5,000 on the black market.
There really is a black market for everything!
To prevent entrepreneurial flight attendants from pawning off their own uniforms (which they get for free), the airline enforces a strict policy in which anyone requesting a new one must either produce a police theft report or the old, damaged item, reports Apple Daily.
Anyone found selling their uniform is instantly fired.
Not even their suitcases are exempt from this trade: flight attendants are known to use bicycle locks to secure them to bus railings in order to prevent theft.
The luggage can go for HKD500, and that’s not counting the thousands of dollars worth of uniforms it may contain.
The uniforms, created by local designer Eddie Lau, got attention last year when the airline’s union said they were “too sexy” and may provoke sexual harassment.
“We believe the company intentionally does this to make us look a bit sexier and to let the passenger see more,” said Michelle Choi, the Flight Attendants Union’s honorary secretary said.
The next line of uniforms will probably feature hot pants and go-go boots.
