PC Air’s Thai Ladyboys Finally Join the Mile High Club
Photo source: Reuters
In March this year I published a felicitously named post Thai Ladyboys Join the Mile High Club which documented the search by new Thai airline PC Air for ladyboy flight attendants. Now nine months later PC Air and its four ladyboy cabin crew members have finally joined the legitimate mile high club after PC Air’s maiden commercial flight flew from Bangkok to Vientiane on Christmas Eve.
The four third gender flight attendants, Nathatai Sukkaset, Supisada Pengkampa, Phuntakarn Sringern and Chayathisa Nakmai, had flown on PC Air demonstration flights but last week’s inaugural commercial flight to Vientiane finally lifted off the four transsexuals airline careers. Along with 19 female cabin crew and seven male, the third gender ‘trolley dollies’ who each hold male passports take PC Air’s cabin staff to a total of 30 employees.
PC Air will be tilting its wings very gently into the aviation air for the first half of 2012 with only regular planned routes to two Chinese cities. However from late June onwards PC Air, solely owned by Thai national Peter Chan, has plans to buy two A300-600 Airbus’ and spread its commercial flight wings to Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan. Chan has no plans to enter Thailand’s domestic flight market and doesn’t expect his company to break even for at least five years.
PC Air’s principle on employing third gender airline cabin staff is believed to be the first of its kind in aviation industry and one which is both innovative and venturesome, yet daring and adventurous in a country with basic, static old-line beliefs. How will middle class Thais react to being welcomed aboard an international flight by an attendant swinging an imaginary handbag and ‘wai-ed’ off by one who to the eyes and ears of Thailand’s professionals and middle management, should only be seen from a distance and at no time heard.
If PC Air’s ladyboy flight attendants and their airline brand slogan I believe it’s “my way” fills you with panic and perplexity about booking a flight reservation with Thailand’s new airline carrier, then the video below of the inaugural jolly might alleviate your fears. Or elevate them. Up to you!
The two minute 15 second video comes with sub-titles and is courtesy of the Bangkok Post.
PC Air’s Thai Ladyboys Finally Join the Mile High Club
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Martyn, what can I say… It’s an interesting concept and while I’ve done a few crazy things in my life, flying both ways is not one of them. Did I just write that? We’ll blame it on the jet-lag, shall we?
Catherine – There’s crazy and down right outrageous, you like most of us probably know where to draw the line. Flying both ways! I wish I had included that line in my post.
Have a good New Year’s Eve in Bangkok and a very happy new year.
I’m gonna fly with PC Air just for the ladyboys, never mind the cheesy logo and conspicuously named Peter Chan (sounds really Thai . . . ahem).
Well-written as usual! You’ve really got that journalistic mixed with the down-to-earth touch here . . .
Ray – I wouldn’t bat an eyelid if faced with PC Air’s transsexual cabin crew. I’m sure they can serve a drink and a meal as well as anyone. The logo is cheesy but quite amusing when you see the ladyboy angle to it.