Qatar Airways' new route to Japan means not only are more staff required, but it has also raised particular issues over rules of etiquette
Qatar Airways' launch of its first route to Japan this week required a dual approach to the personnel issues raised by the expansion – not only were extra cabin crew needed, but existing staff had to be trained on Japanese customs and etiquette.
While the route, comprising four flights a week from Doha, Qatar, to Osaka and using an Airbus A330-200, will be staffed by a mixed crew drawn from the 50-odd nationalities employed by the airline, Qatar Airways is embarking on a recruitment drive in Japan itself.
Thirteen Japanese flight attendants have been hired over the last few months, doubling the airline's complement. More are expected to be recruited as Qatar looks to increase its presence in the Japanese market. A team from Qatar's recruitment department will visit Japan in April for another round of interviews.
"Our aspirations are to operate more flights to Japan," says Qatar Airways, "for example, to Tokyo, and we have plans to recruit a lot more Japanese crew – although not just for Japanese flights."
All of the airline's flight attendants receive seven weeks of training in Doha before starting work, but those earmarked for the Osaka route have been given additional training on Japanese cultural mores. The Japanese have strict rules of etiquette over everything from greetings to eating.
"We fly to a diverse range of cultures," says Qatar Airways. "Japan is a very important market and actually quite different culturally to the rest of the world. There was a need for us to have a better understanding of how to treat Japanese passengers, whether it's on the ground when they are waiting to check in or once they board the aircraft."
Qatar has hired a cabin crew instructor from Tokyo, Masako Hanzawa, to conduct the training. She will cover how to approach and talk to passengers, as well as how Japanese cuisine should be prepared and served.
"She will be able to advise us on how our crew need to conduct themselves with Japanese passengers on a 9h flight," says Kapur.
Applicants for cabin crew positions with Qatar must be between 20 and 30 years old, and a minimum of 1.58m (5ft 2in) tall with a good grasp of written and spoken English.
Previous airline, customer service, nursing or hospitality experience is helpful. All cabin crew are based in Doha and receive a tax-free package of more than $1,370 a month plus free accommodation and other benefits and allowances.
Over the next few months, Qatar Airways is also recruiting cabin crew in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Bangkok, Thailand.
flight.workingweek@rbi.co.uk
Source: Flight International
