“Traditionally, high heels have been part of the required uniform. However, prolonged wear can cause physical discomfort and in certain situations, flat shoes improve stability and safety. It reflects our commitment to professional needs and passenger safety,” the airline said.
Employees told Hangzhou Daily that the initiative aims to reduce the “burden” on employees.
“Flight attendants are permitted to refrain from wearing high heels during all of their duties, including boarding and using passenger elevators and jetways.”
The change was welcomed by the female flight attendants.
Some have posted photos of their shoes showing the marks left by their toes after standing for hours. Others have promoted foot patches specifically designed for wearing high heels to prevent chafing.
Li Yan, who has worked as a flight attendant for 12 years, wore flat shoes for the first time during her shift on August 3.
She flew from Changsha in central China’s Hunan province to Baoshan in southwestern Yunnan province – and back, a round trip of about five hours.
“It was a very relaxed feeling to wear flat shoes for the entire shift. Previously, it was uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe to wear high heels when climbing stairs or crossing jetways in rain or snow.
“The heels could slip and walking long distances to distant parking lots was also tiring,” she said.
Li Qiang, founder and executive director of China Labor Watch, a U.S.-based nonprofit, told the Post: “Wearing high heels used to be considered fashionable, but now the situation has changed.
“Air Travel’s approach could give the company a competitive advantage in recruiting female flight attendants, but whether it will inspire other airlines to follow our example remains to be seen,” he said.
The decision in China follows similar initiatives in other countries.
In June, photos of Super Air Jet flight attendants in Indonesia wearing trousers and flat shoes instead of the usual skirts and high heels sparked widespread discussion and quickly spread like wildfire on mainland social media.
The shoe change has also been well received on social media on the mainland.
“It’s not just about a pair of shoes, it reflects whether a company’s policies are people-centered,” said one person
“Please no more beauty requirements. This should have been done a long time ago. Forcing them to wear high heels is nothing more than ‘ankle shackles,'” wrote another.
