Air India

Air India tightens cabin crew fitness rules, weight gain may lead to pay loss

A new policy at Air India could directly impact cabin crew rosters and salaries, linking fitness levels to employment status, as the airline moves to enforce stricter health standards from May 1.

Published on:

22 Mar 2026, 3:58 am

In a move that could affect rosters and salaries, Air India is set to roll out a new health and fitness compliance policy for cabin crew, where those falling outside prescribed Body Mass Index ranges may face derostering and loss of pay.

The policy, which will come into effect from May 1, links crew eligibility to BMI readings and functional fitness assessments.

As per the policy, a BMI reading between 18 and 24.9 has been defined as the “normal” and desired range.

A BMI below 18 will be treated as underweight. While this may be accepted, it will depend on the crew member clearing a medical evaluation and functional assessment.

Those with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 will fall under the overweight category. This range may still be acceptable if the individual clears the functional assessment.

However, a BMI of 30 or above has been classified as obese and is not considered acceptable under the new rules.

Crew members found to be underweight or overweight will be derostered and required to undergo a functional assessment.

If they fail to clear the assessment, they will be placed on loss of pay until they meet the required standards.

For those categorised as obese, the policy calls for immediate derostering along with loss of pay. They will be required to bring their BMI within the acceptable range within a specified period.

In its communication to staff, the airline said, “The initial launch aims to promote awareness of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and familiarise crew with the process of maintaining an appropriate weight category.”

It added, “The current policy, in the interim, serves as a preparatory measure before the policy with enhanced fitness standards is implemented.”

The policy will apply to both active cabin crew and those undergoing training.

The development comes as Air India continues restructuring after its acquisition by Tata Group in January 2022. The airline has also phased out a significant portion of its legacy workforce over the past four years.