Spring Airlines pioneers 'Air Moms' recruitment, targeting married women up to 40

Spring Airlines, China’s top-earning low-cost airline, unveiled a unique recruitment drive for cabin crew, termed “air moms,” in late October 2025, prioritizing married women with children and raising the age limit to 40. 

Launched on the airline’s website, the initiative requires candidates to hold a full-time bachelor’s degree or higher, stand between 162 cm and 174 cm tall, and have no prior work experience. 

The positions are based in Shanghai and Lanzhou, aligning with the airline’s expansion plans. 

At a press conference on October 22 for the 2025-2026 flight season at its Lanzhou base, the airline’s recruitment head emphasized that “air moms” bring exceptional empathy and adaptability, excelling in serving children and handling emergencies, a departure from traditional cabin crew hiring that typically targeted women aged 18-25, with some airlines extending to 32 or, as Beijing Capital Airlines recently announced, 35 for senior roles.

The recruitment coincides with Spring Airlines’ introduction of three new routes for the 2025-2026 season: Shanghai-Lanzhou-Hotan, Lanzhou-Hanoi, and Lanzhou-Chiang Mai. 

The airline, which began operations on July 18, 2005, as one of China’s first private carriers, reported strong growth in its 2025 half-year financials, with revenue reaching 10.3 billion yuan, up 4.35 percent, despite a 14.11 percent dip in net profit to 1.17 billion yuan. Passenger traffic surged, transporting 15.2 million travelers, a 9.4 percent increase, with a load factor of 90.5 percent. 

International routes saw a 41 percent rise in available seat kilometers, recovering to 2019 levels, though Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan routes dropped 45.3 percent. In September 2025, passenger turnover grew 22.87 percent. 

Operating 134 Airbus A320 aircraft and over 230 routes across China, Southeast Asia, and Northeast Asia, Spring Airlines continues to solidify its position as a key player in regional travel, with bases in cities like Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Jeju, Korea.