INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT ATTENDANT DAY

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT ATTENDANT DAY

On May 31, International Flight Attendant Day recognizes the dedicated members of the flight crew who rise early, stay late and remain alert throughout the flight providing comfort, care and reassurance of the safest travel.

#FlightAttendantDay

Crisscrossing the country and circumnavigating the globe, these members of the cabin crew come well prepared and trained for an array of circumstances, most of which could occur at 35,000 feet in the air. A crisis rarely takes place and as a result, they are able to provide the best midair hospitality available while making sure we arrive safely at our destination.

Flight Attendant Timeline

  • 1912:

    Heinrich Kubis becomes the world’s first flight attendant, serving on the LZ 10 Schwaben Zeppelin. At this time, the role was exclusively for men and modeled after stewards on luxury trains and ships.

  • 1922:

    Jack Sanderson becomes the first airplane flight attendant, working for Daimler Airway (UK) at just 14 years old.

  • 1926–1929:

    U.S. airlines like Stout and Pan Am begin hiring male stewards to serve food and assist pilots with luggage and fueling.

  • 1930:

    Ellen Church, a registered nurse and pilot, convinces Boeing Air Transport (now United Airlines) that having nurses on board would calm passengers' fears about flying.

    Ellen and seven other nurses become the first female flight attendants. However, To be a "Sky Girl," you had to be a registered nurse, single, under 25, weigh less than 115 lbs, and stand under 5'4".

  • 1934:

    Nelly Diener becomes Europe’s first female flight attendant for Swissair.

  • 1964–1971:

    The Civil Rights Act and major lawsuits (like Diaz v. Pan Am) finally ended discriminatory hiring practices.

    • 1965: Marriage bans were struck down.

    • 1971: Men were officially allowed back into the role after the Supreme Court ruled against gender-based hiring.

    • The term "stewardess" is gradually replaced by the gender-neutral "Flight Attendant."

  • The 1980s–Today:

    The Safety Shift: Following major incidents in the 80s, the FAA and global agencies emphasized that flight attendants are, first and foremost, safety officers trained in evacuation, firefighting, and medical emergencies.

    Diversity: Today, the profession is one of the most diverse in the world, with people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds serving as the "Commanders of the Cabin."

HOW TO OBSERVE

Make a special effort to thank your flight attendant.  Let them know their attention to detail doesn't go unnoticed. Their days are long and sometimes overwhelming with long spells away from family and friends.  Use #FlightAttendantDay to share on social media.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT ATTENDANT DAY HISTORY

International Flight Attendant Day (also known as International Cabin Crew Day) has been celebrated around the world since at least 2015.