Japan Airlines to Stop Using ‘Ladies and Gentlemen’ to Be More Gender-Inclusive

Japan Airlines (JAL) will now address all its passengers with gender-inclusive alternatives to replace the customary “ladies and gentlemen” on its flights.

A positive step forward: Starting on Oct. 1, the airline will be using phrases like “attention all passengers” and “welcome, everyone” at airports worldwide to promote the inclusiveness of all genders, CNN Travel reported.

According to JAL publicist Yutaro Iwasaki, the company is initiating the change to “treat everyone (the same) regardless of gender.”
Iwasaki said that the company has been promoting diversity since 2014.
Back in March, the airline announced that female flight attendants can choose to wear trousers instead of skirts so they can be more comfortable.
JAL Express, a subsidiary of the airline, also hired Japan’s first-ever female commercial air pilot last year.
After getting her pilot’s license in the United States, Ari Fuji returned to Japan following her acceptance to JAL’s pilot training program.
Other international carriers have undertaken similar initiatives to promote inclusivity, with Air Canada replacing “ladies and gentlemen” with “everybody” and Australia’s Qantas refraining from using gender-specific terms.

LGBTQ support: In recent years, Japan has seen a continued push for LGBTQ rights, with a growing number of people seeking support for same-sex marriage, reports the New York Times.

In December, an online survey found that one out of ten people in Japan identify as LGBTQ or another sexual minority.
Other findings revealed that 78% of LGBTQ people or sexual minorities in Japan have not told anyone about their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Members of the Japanese LGBTQ and sexual minority communities have sought greater efforts from companies and governments to make a better environment for them, reports Japan Times.

Feature Image via Getty

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