Starting May 1, 2026, Air India is set to implement a rigorous ‘Cabin Crew Health and Fitness Compliance Policy’. The airline has made it clear that physical fitness, measured via Body Mass Index (BMI), is now a prerequisite for flying duties and salary eligibility.

Key BMI Thresholds:

• 18 to 24.9 (Normal): Fully eligible for active duty.
• 25 to 29.9 (Overweight): May be derostered; eligible to fly only after passing a functional fitness assessment.
• 30 and Above (Obese): Immediate derostering and Loss of Pay. Staff must bring their BMI down within a stipulated timeframe to resume work.

Safety First: Air India justifies this move by stating that fitness is intrinsically linked to onboard safety and emergency response capabilities. Crew members will be subjected to random BMI checks before or after flights. Non-compliance could lead to disciplinary action or even job loss if weight targets aren’t met after repeated warnings.