DOLE OKs dancing flight attendants

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has given its nod of approval for airlines, particularly Cebu Pacific, to have their flight attendants dance as part of a plan to attract more passengers.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said they see no reason to stop the flight attendants from dancing during their flight safety demonstration.

“There is no law that prohibits such practice so I think it’s really a management prerogative,” she said. “Let us leave the judgment to the passengers.”

A video of Cebu Pacific’s dancing flight attendants became an Internet sensation earlier this month. Carrying seat belts, life jackets and oxygen masks, female flight attendants danced to Lady Gaga’s Just Dance and Katy Perry’s California Girls while demonstrating safety procedures.

However, critics claimed the marketing ploy was gender-insensitive and exploited the female flight attendants. Cebu Pacific later came out with another dance routine, this time showcasing the male flight attendants.

Baldoz said having flight attendants dance during flight safety demonstrations is not really a traditional practice in the airline industry. “It was really meant to catch attention and it seems it did,” she said.