Cabin crew schools take off as Indians reach for the sky

With supply far outstripping demand for well-paid airline jobs, cabin crew training schools have sprouted across India, luring aspirants with glossy adverts with often white-skinned models, and a promise of job placements.
Many airlines dismiss them as commercial ventures out to exploit aspirants from small towns, but their growth story continues.
The largest, Frankfinn Institute, has expanded from a single branch four years ago to 79 now, along with 30 information offices in remote areas, and plans to spread in South Asia, West Asia and South Africa.
It has about 15,000 students on its rolls and charges about $2,850 (Rs1,15,140) —nearly as much as many private medical and engineering schools do—to impart non-academic and non-technical training.
“Most of these people would never make it. You can’t groom people lacking in social skills with two-hour classes,” said Vijaya Lukose, head of in-flight services at Air Deccan and author of 10 Steps to Become an AirHostess.
“They are just money-making shops.”
Staff at Frankfinn admit that many of its 15,000 students will not make it as flight attendants.
“The retail industry is booming. Our students have a lot of opportunities as store and service managers,” said personality development trainer Sangeeta Singh.
10/07/07 Parul Gupta, AFP/Livemint