Goodbye, ladies and gentlemen.

Lufthansa is adopting new gender-neutral language on all of its flights. The German airline plans to do away with its traditional onboard greeting: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome on board.” Instead, it will use gender-neutral alternatives, like “dear guests” and a simple “welcome on board.”

“Diversity isn’t just an empty phrase, but is a reality for Lufthansa. Starting now, we also want to express this attitude in our language,” Lufthansa spokeswoman Anja Stenger told German broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

The change in policy applies to all airlines operated by Lufthansa, including Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings. Crew members will make decisions about how to address individual travelers on board, Deutsche Welle reports.

Video: ‘An Inconvenient Minority’ author: How are Asian-Americans succeeding if US is systemically racist? (FOX News)

• Moms slam coronavirus mandates affecting children in US

  FOX News
  

• Anti-cop rhetoric, defund efforts leading to officer shortage: New Orleans Police captain

  FOX News
  

• Illinois State University offers prizes, scholarships in vaccine drive

  FOX News
  

• ICE confirms Tucker's report on flights of illegal immigrants from military airport

  FOX News
  

• Streisand: 'With effective council,' Britney Spears will get conservatorship 'terminated'

  FOX News
  

• Iranian journalist, activist speaks out about her attempted kidnapping

  FOX News
  

• 'An Inconvenient Minority' author: How are Asian-Americans succeeding if US is systemically racist?

  FOX News
  

• Top US General receives pat on back, 'well done' after leaving Afghanistan

  FOX News
  

• Texas Democrats leaving state to block new voter law a ‘stunt’: Karl Rove

  FOX News
  

• Texas Senator John Cornyn criticizes Biden over federal election reform push

  FOX News
  

• Jussie Smollett to appear in court for status hearing on felony charges

  FOX News
  

• Army vet raising money to help rescue Afghan interpreter as Taliban moves in

  FOX News
  

• Author of new Navy report explains findings, sounds alarm on readiness for battle

  FOX News
  

• Kansas AG sounds off on CRT: 'Critical race theory is an attempt to cancel America's founding'

  FOX News
  

• Chicago radio personality raises money for man walking 3 hours to work

  FOX News
  

• Texas community files petition in push to strengthen police force

  FOX News
  

• 
  Moms slam coronavirus mandates affecting children in US
  Dr. Anthony Fauci says 3-year-olds should wear masks.
  
  
  FOX News
  

• 
  Anti-cop rhetoric, defund efforts leading to officer shortage: New Orleans Police captain
  President of the Police Association of New Orleans Micheal Glasser on the officer staffing struggles his city faces.
  
  
  FOX News
  

• 
  Illinois State University offers prizes, scholarships in vaccine drive
  Where is the money coming from? Student Josh Bender with reaction to the school's lottery on 'Fox & Friends First.'
  
  
  FOX News
  

The airline told CNN that it would not ban the use of words like sir or madam on board. “Our aim is to welcome everyone on board on an equal basis,” a Lufthansa representative told CNN Travel.

The European Commission and United Nations are among those who are embracing gender-neutral language, but there is division about the shift in Germany, where the local language genders many words. Unlike English, which uses gender-neutral nouns, German has specific words for male doctor and female doctor and male editor and female editor, for example, according to Deutsche Welle.

Supporters of gender-neutral language in Germany argue that gendered words exclude anyone who doesn’t identify as male or female and promotes sexist stereotypes. Opponents describe the movement toward general neutrality as an “assault” on the German language Deutsche Welle reports.

Alexandra Scheele, a social and gender economics researcher at Germany’s Bielefeld University, described Lufthansa’s move as a step in the right direction. “This move works at a symbolic level,” she told Deutsche Welle. “It can be considered as a ‘gender-sensitive’ step through which the gender binary is questioned.”

Airlines such as Japan’s JAL, European budget carrier EasyJet, and Air Canada have adopted similar policies on board their flights.

Meena Thiruvengadam is a Travel + Leisure contributor who has visited 50 countries on six continents and 47 U.S. states. Find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Source: Read Full Article