An Indian airline has hit on possibly the worthiest excuse yet for hiring slim women as cabin crew -- it saves fuel and therefore money . While some airlines admit to hiring women for their sex appeal , budget carrier GoAir has told The Times of India it will be hiring predominantly female flight attendants in future because they are 15-20 kilos lighter on average than men . The airline estimates each extra kilo on board costs Rs3 ( $ 0.05 ) per flying hour , and the new policy will save it up to $ 500,000 annually . A spokesman for the airline denied to CNN that it had implemented a gender-biased recruitment policy . But he confirmed that the airline 's male-female cabin crew ratio of 40:60 was among the most male-heavy in the industry in India . He also confirmed that GoAir would be seeking to adjust this ratio to be in line with the industry norm of 30 men to 70 women . Other weight-reduction initiatives will also be employed . `` The size of in-flight magazines has been reduced , '' the airline 's CEO Giorgio De Roni said . `` The potable water tanks are no longer being filled to capacity as only 35 % to 40 % of that water is actually used . '' GoAir 's 130 male cabin staff ( out of 330 total ) will be unaffected -- the policy affects future hires only . The airline expects to hire around 2,000 flight attendants and pilots over the next seven years . Weight and its reduction is a key focus for airlines as fuel costs , comprising a third to half an airline 's operating costs , continue to rise . Samoa Air last year became the first airline to charge fees according to weight , and a Norwegian economist has claimed this is the fairest and most sensible way to calculate prices . More : Airline 'fat tax ' : Should heavy passengers pay more ? Sensible economizing , good marketing or discrimination ? Tell us what you think about GoAir 's new recruitment policy .
Women require less fuel than men , says GoAir . New policy will help save $ 500,000 per year .