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Thailand's ladyboy airline grounded

New Thai airline PC Air has taken off on its first proving flight from Bangkok to Surat Thani province after it recruited four transsexual flight attendants earlier this year.
1 / 19New Thai airline PC Air has taken off on its first proving flight from Bangkok to Surat Thani province after it recruited four transsexual flight attendants earlier this year. Reuters
The airline's original plan to hire only male and female attendants was changed when more than 100 job applications from transvestites and transsexuals were received, four of whom were recruited along with 19 female and seven male flight attendants.
2 / 19The airline's original plan to hire only male and female attendants was changed when more than 100 job applications from transvestites and transsexuals were received, four of whom were recruited along with 19 female and seven male flight attendants. Reuters
The airline said the qualifications were the same as that required of female flight attendants, which include femininity and attractiveness.
3 / 19The airline said the qualifications were the same as that required of female flight attendants, which include femininity and attractiveness. Reuters
PC Air transsexual flight attendants (L to R): Nathatai Sukkaset, 26, Dissanai Chitpraphachin, 24, Chayathisa Nakmai, 24, and, Phuntakarn Sringern, 24, pose for photographers in front of a PC Air plane at Surat Thani Airport.
4 / 19PC Air transsexual flight attendants (L to R): Nathatai Sukkaset, 26, Dissanai Chitpraphachin, 24, Chayathisa Nakmai, 24, and, Phuntakarn Sringern, 24, pose for photographers in front of a PC Air plane at Surat Thani Airport.Reuters
PC Air transsexual flight attendant Nathatai Sukkaset, 26, speaks with passengers.
5 / 19PC Air transsexual flight attendant Nathatai Sukkaset, 26, speaks with passengers.Reuters
Thai transsexuals flight attendants, from left to right, Chayathisa Nakmai, Dissanai Chitpraphachin, Nathatai Sukkaset and Phuntakarn Sringern pose for photograph at a check-in counter for PC Air at Suvarnabhumi international in Bangkok.
6 / 19Thai transsexuals flight attendants, from left to right, Chayathisa Nakmai, Dissanai Chitpraphachin, Nathatai Sukkaset and Phuntakarn Sringern pose for photograph at a check-in counter for PC Air at Suvarnabhumi international in Bangkok.AP
Thai transsexuals flight attendants, from left to right, Chayathisa Nakmai, Dissanai Chitpraphachin, Nathatai Sukkaset and Phuntakarn Sringern pose for photograph at a check-in counter for PC Air at Suvarnabhumi international in Bangkok.
7 / 19Thai transsexuals flight attendants, from left to right, Chayathisa Nakmai, Dissanai Chitpraphachin, Nathatai Sukkaset and Phuntakarn Sringern pose for photograph at a check-in counter for PC Air at Suvarnabhumi international in Bangkok.AP
Thai transsexual flight attendant Phuntakarn Sringern serves food during the flight.
8 / 19Thai transsexual flight attendant Phuntakarn Sringern serves food during the flight.AP
PC Air transsexual flight attendant Chayathisa Nakmai (R), 24, demonstrates in-flight safety to passengers.
9 / 19PC Air transsexual flight attendant Chayathisa Nakmai (R), 24, demonstrates in-flight safety to passengers.Reuters
Thai transsexual flight attendants, from left to right, Phuntakarn Sringern, Nathatai Sukkaset, Chayathisa Nakmai and Dissanai Chitpraphachin, greet passengers.
10 / 19Thai transsexual flight attendants, from left to right, Phuntakarn Sringern, Nathatai Sukkaset, Chayathisa Nakmai and Dissanai Chitpraphachin, greet passengers.AP
PC Air transsexual flight attendant Chayathisa Nakmai, 24, demonstrates in-flight safety to passengers.
11 / 19PC Air transsexual flight attendant Chayathisa Nakmai, 24, demonstrates in-flight safety to passengers.Reuters
Thai transsexual flight attendants Chayathisa Nakmai, left, Dissanai Chitpraphachin, 2nd left, Nathatai Sukkaset, 2nd right, and Phuntakarn Sringern, right, pose for photograph with PC Air President Peter Chan, 3rd left, and Chairman of PC Air Chawiwat Glamkomol, 3rd right.
12 / 19Thai transsexual flight attendants Chayathisa Nakmai, left, Dissanai Chitpraphachin, 2nd left, Nathatai Sukkaset, 2nd right, and Phuntakarn Sringern, right, pose for photograph with PC Air President Peter Chan, 3rd left, and Chairman of PC Air Chawiwat Glamkomol, 3rd right.AP
PC Air transsexual flight attendant Chayathisa Nakmai, 24, serves passengers.
13 / 19PC Air transsexual flight attendant Chayathisa Nakmai, 24, serves passengers.Reuters
PC Air transsexual flight attendant Chayathisa Nakmai, 24, demonstrates in-flight safety to passengers.
14 / 19PC Air transsexual flight attendant Chayathisa Nakmai, 24, demonstrates in-flight safety to passengers.Reuters
PC Air transsexual flight attendant Chayathisa Nakmai, 24, serves passengers on board the flight.
15 / 19PC Air transsexual flight attendant Chayathisa Nakmai, 24, serves passengers on board the flight.Reuters
Peter Chan, President of PC Air, talks with reporters about his airline.
16 / 19Peter Chan, President of PC Air, talks with reporters about his airline.AP
Thai transsexuals flight attendants Nathatai Sukkaset, right, and Phuntakarn Sringern serve soft drinks on board the plane.
17 / 19Thai transsexuals flight attendants Nathatai Sukkaset, right, and Phuntakarn Sringern serve soft drinks on board the plane.AP
PC Air transsexual flight attendant Chayathisa Nakmai, 24, puts a passenger's luggage in the overhead compartment.
18 / 19PC Air transsexual flight attendant Chayathisa Nakmai, 24, puts a passenger's luggage in the overhead compartment.Reuters
Thai transsexuals flight attendants, from left to right, Chayathisa Nakmai, Nathatai Sukkaset, Phuntakarn Sringern and Dissanai Chitpraphachin pose inside a PC Air plane.
19 / 19Thai transsexuals flight attendants, from left to right, Chayathisa Nakmai, Nathatai Sukkaset, Phuntakarn Sringern and Dissanai Chitpraphachin pose inside a PC Air plane. AP

Months after taking to the skies with Thailand's first transsexual air crew, fledgling carrier PC Air has suspended services over financial troubles that left passengers stranded in South Korea.

"The airline informed the Department of Civil Aviation on Friday that they cannot operate their charter flights due to business problems," Thai Deputy Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt said. "So it will suspend its services," he added.

The move is expected to last until at least the end of the month.

PC Air hit the headlines earlier this year when it hired four transgender cabin attendants in a highly publicised recruitment drive to operate charter flights from Bangkok to Hong Kong and other Asian destinations.

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But the privately owned carrier drew less welcome attention last week when its only aircraft was unable to take off from Seoul's Incheon Airport because the company could not pay its service and fuel fees.

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PC Air has blamed its South Korean agent for the unpaid bill, which left several hundred passengers stuck in Seoul.

AFP

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