Lufthansa has dropped the words «ladies and gentlemen» as an on-board greeting — replacing them with a gender-neutral alternative.
A spokesman for Europe's largest airline group said the move was intended to make all passengers on board feel welcome, including those who does not identify as male or female.
“The crews have been instructed to choose a greeting that includes all passengers,” he said, adding that the phrase “dear guests” or a simple «good morning/good evening».
The new policy, which will be implemented gradually, applies to the German airline Lufthansa, as well as Swiss, Austrian, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings.
The company said its actions are in response to a «fair discussion in society» about non-binary gender identity and a desire to “value all guests on board.”
Lufthansa is not the first company to drop the word “ladies and gentlemen” as a standard greeting for customers.
Japan Airlines announced last year that it would use phrases such as «all passengers», «good morning» and «good evening» in its English messages.
