EasyJet in-flight announcements to become more gender-inclusive

Dec 26, 2019


Low-cost carrier EasyJet is the latest airline to recommend its crews ditch the phrase “ladies and gentlemen” when addressing passengers.

This summer, one traveler wrote to the airline on Twitter, suggesting that EasyJet “do better” in making in-flight announcements more gender-inclusive. The airline seemed to take the comments to heart, saying after some back-and-forth that it would pass the feedback along.

Now, EasyJet has told CNN Travel that it intends to act on that promise.

“We want our crew to be welcoming to everyone on board, so have provided some guidance to them on how best to do that in a way that is inclusive for everyone,” a spokesperson for the airline told CNN. But, the company emphasised it has not outright banned the salutation “ladies and gentlemen.”

EasyJet is just the latest in a string of airlines working to make their flights more welcoming to gender nonbinary travelers. This fall, Air Canada made a similar move, rewriting the script for its announcements to use phrases other than “ladies and gentlemen.” Meanwhile, American and United offer nonbinary gender options for travelers to select when booking their tickets, and Delta has committed to taking a similar step.

Featured photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images.

