Israeli flight attendants protest against heels at work

Dozens of flight attendants have signed a petition in recent days against the airline's decision to require high heels to be worn before planes take off. Previously, flight attendants were required to wear high-heeled shoes only before boarding the plane - once on board, flight attendants usually exchanged their heels for more comfortable flat shoes.

NAAMAT President Galia Volokh wrote a letter to El Al CEO David Maimon on Sunday demanding that the decision to wear heels be reversed.

“I don’t believe that heels are so necessary for the presentable appearance of a woman, and certainly also for flight attendants, part of whose job is to be on their feet for a long time,” Volokh wrote.

She also called the new rule outrageous and annoying.

“The CEO of a company must remember that the responsibility of flight attendants is their ability to provide service and it has nothing to do with their attire,” she wrote.

“I suggest Mr. Maimon put himself in the shoes of a flight attendant and try walking in heels for just one hour first before he forces them to harm their health for no good reason,” she added.

A similar proposal was made by Knesset Member Sheli Yachimovich (Zionist Camp), who called on the entire male part of the El Al leadership to wear high-heeled shoes.