منذ أن بدأت شركات الطيران التجاري رحلتها في بواكير القرن الماضي، كان وجود المضيفات جزءاً أساسياً من سلامة السفر الجوي وجاذبيته.
آمنت الشركات الناقلة مبكراً أن المنافسة تتطلّب تجربة سفر متكاملة يعيشها الراكب بكلّ حواسّه؛ لذلك اعتبرت المظهر الحسن والابتسامة المشرقة والخدمة الجيّدة، عناصر فارقة تؤثر في تفضيلات المسافرين، ووضعت مواصفات دقيقة لاختيار المضيفات من ناحية الطول والوزن والحضور، كذلك اهتمت بأزياء الطاقم لتكون أنيقة ومميّزة، مع التدريب على التحمّل والقدرة على التعامل مع مختلف المواقف بهدوء وحكمة.
ولأن الطيران كان وما زال فضاءً ساحراً بكافة تفاصيله، فقد أصبح وجود المضيفات بهذا الأدب والذوق والترتيب أحد أسرار الإعجاب الجماعي بهنّ عبر التاريخ وفي كل مكان.
عالمة النفس «هودي جيمس» قدّمت تفسيراً لافتاً لهذه الظاهرة، إذ رأت أن أكثر الرجال إعجاباً بالمضيفات هم أولئك الذين يشعرون بالقلق أثناء الطيران، وتعزو ذلك إلى أن الذاكرة غير الواعية تستدعي لحظة الطفولة، إذ يكون الطفل مجبراً على الجلوس بمكانه وانتظار من يقدّم له الطعام ويشعره بالطمأنينة؛ لذا (في لحظات من الرحلة) تصبح المضيفة بالنسبة للمسافر صورة من صور الأمان وملاذاً نفسياً بين السحاب.
الأستاذ عبدالرحمن المعمر رحمه الله، تناول هذه الأبعاد في كتابه «المضيفات والممرضات في الشعر المعاصر»، إذ جمع عدداً من القصائد التي تغنّى فيها الأدباء بالمضيفات باعتبارهن رمزاً للرقّة والأناقة، ولم يكن الأدب وحده من التقط هذه الصورة، بل السينما أيضاً، إذ قدّمت المضيفة في كثير من الأفلام كقصة صعود اجتماعي مليئة بالرومانسية والدهشة، وأصبحت بطلة خيال جماعيّ فُتِنَ بالجمال والانطلاق والسفر.
خلف هذه الصورة اللامعة هناك واقع لا يخلو من صعوبات، فالإحصاءات تشير إلى أن نحو 68% من المضيفات حول العالم تعرّضن لشكل من أشكال التحرش اللفظي أو غير المباشر، رغم القوانين الصارمة التي تفرضها التشريعات الدولية لحماية الطاقم، ومع ذلك فإن المضيفات مدربات على مواجهة مثل هذه المواقف بوسائل متعددة تبدأ من التجاهل الذكي، مروراً بالتوجيه الحازم، وصولاً إلى الإبلاغ الرسمي متى تطلب الأمر.
اليوم، يُقدّر عدد المضيفات في العالم بأكثر من 400 ألف مضيفة يحلّقن عبر آلاف الرحلات يومياً، يزرعن الدفء بالأجواء ويحملن معهن قصصاً صغيرة تختزل رواية الطيران المثيرة، ومن أبرز هذه القصص ما تجسّده الأمريكية «بيت ناش» التي عُرفت كأقدم مضيفة في العالم بعد أن واصلت عملها 67 عاماً كاملاً، قبل وفاتها العام الماضي عن عمرٍ يناهز 88 سنة، في مشهد يلخّص عظمة هذه المهنة وعمق أثرها.
المضيفات لم يكنّ يوماً مجرد موظفات أنيقات يقدّمن الخدمة للمسافرين، بل أيقونات ثقافية ألهمت الشعراء والفنانين، وأضفت على السفر بعداً إنسانياً يجعلهن بحق «سيدات الغيم»
تابع قناة عكاظ على الواتساب
Since commercial airlines began their journey in the early last century, the presence of flight attendants has been an essential part of air travel safety and its appeal.
Early on, airlines believed that competition required a complete travel experience that passengers could live through all their senses; therefore, they considered good appearance, a bright smile, and good service as distinguishing elements that affect travelers' preferences. They set precise specifications for selecting flight attendants regarding height, weight, and presence, and they also paid attention to the crew's uniforms to be elegant and distinctive, along with training on endurance and the ability to handle various situations calmly and wisely.
Because flying has always been and still is a magical space in all its details, the presence of flight attendants with this decorum, taste, and order has become one of the secrets of collective admiration for them throughout history and everywhere.
Psychologist "Hoodie James" provided an intriguing explanation for this phenomenon, noting that the men most impressed by flight attendants are those who feel anxious during flights. She attributes this to the unconscious memory recalling childhood moments, where a child is forced to sit in place and wait for someone to provide food and comfort; thus, (in moments of the journey) the flight attendant becomes for the traveler an image of safety and a psychological refuge among the clouds.
The late Professor Abdulrahman Al-Muammar addressed these dimensions in his book "Flight Attendants and Nurses in Contemporary Poetry," where he collected a number of poems in which writers celebrated flight attendants as symbols of grace and elegance. Literature was not the only medium to capture this image; cinema also presented the flight attendant in many films as a story of social ascent filled with romance and wonder, becoming a heroine of a collective imagination captivated by beauty, freedom, and travel.
Behind this shiny image lies a reality not devoid of difficulties, as statistics indicate that about 68% of flight attendants worldwide have experienced some form of verbal or indirect harassment, despite the strict laws imposed by international legislation to protect the crew. Nevertheless, flight attendants are trained to face such situations through various means, starting from smart ignoring, moving to firm direction, and reaching formal reporting when necessary.
Today, the number of flight attendants in the world is estimated to be more than 400,000, soaring through thousands of flights daily, spreading warmth in the atmosphere and carrying with them small stories that encapsulate the thrilling narrative of aviation. Among these stories is that of American "Betty Nash," who was known as the world's oldest flight attendant after continuing her work for a full 67 years, before passing away last year at the age of 88, in a scene that summarizes the greatness of this profession and its profound impact.
Flight attendants have never been merely elegant employees providing service to travelers; they are cultural icons that have inspired poets and artists, adding a human dimension to travel that truly makes them "Ladies of the Clouds."
Early on, airlines believed that competition required a complete travel experience that passengers could live through all their senses; therefore, they considered good appearance, a bright smile, and good service as distinguishing elements that affect travelers' preferences. They set precise specifications for selecting flight attendants regarding height, weight, and presence, and they also paid attention to the crew's uniforms to be elegant and distinctive, along with training on endurance and the ability to handle various situations calmly and wisely.
Because flying has always been and still is a magical space in all its details, the presence of flight attendants with this decorum, taste, and order has become one of the secrets of collective admiration for them throughout history and everywhere.
Psychologist "Hoodie James" provided an intriguing explanation for this phenomenon, noting that the men most impressed by flight attendants are those who feel anxious during flights. She attributes this to the unconscious memory recalling childhood moments, where a child is forced to sit in place and wait for someone to provide food and comfort; thus, (in moments of the journey) the flight attendant becomes for the traveler an image of safety and a psychological refuge among the clouds.
The late Professor Abdulrahman Al-Muammar addressed these dimensions in his book "Flight Attendants and Nurses in Contemporary Poetry," where he collected a number of poems in which writers celebrated flight attendants as symbols of grace and elegance. Literature was not the only medium to capture this image; cinema also presented the flight attendant in many films as a story of social ascent filled with romance and wonder, becoming a heroine of a collective imagination captivated by beauty, freedom, and travel.
Behind this shiny image lies a reality not devoid of difficulties, as statistics indicate that about 68% of flight attendants worldwide have experienced some form of verbal or indirect harassment, despite the strict laws imposed by international legislation to protect the crew. Nevertheless, flight attendants are trained to face such situations through various means, starting from smart ignoring, moving to firm direction, and reaching formal reporting when necessary.
Today, the number of flight attendants in the world is estimated to be more than 400,000, soaring through thousands of flights daily, spreading warmth in the atmosphere and carrying with them small stories that encapsulate the thrilling narrative of aviation. Among these stories is that of American "Betty Nash," who was known as the world's oldest flight attendant after continuing her work for a full 67 years, before passing away last year at the age of 88, in a scene that summarizes the greatness of this profession and its profound impact.
Flight attendants have never been merely elegant employees providing service to travelers; they are cultural icons that have inspired poets and artists, adding a human dimension to travel that truly makes them "Ladies of the Clouds."
