In a heartwarming ode to Pride Month, Air Canada launched its first-ever flight staffed entirely by LGBTQ+ people.
“It was a bit of a range of emotions this morning coming here and getting dressed for this flight,” said Captain Maciej in a video of the experience posted to the airline’s social media.
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Jean-François, a station attendant, called it “a historical moment” and “a great initiative for the whole community.”
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“It’s somewhat of a thrill being on this flight today,” he added.
A celebration marking the flight shows the crew smiling and waving rainbow flags flanked by a colorful balloon arch, which passengers also walked by on their way to the jetway.
“It has to do with visibility,” said First Officer Juan, “with the possibility of telling everyone that we truly feel welcome and accepted for who we are.”
A station attendant, René Jr, added, “I’m here to support my daughter. One of my four children is part of this community. When I saw there was an opportunity to support her even more, I signed up for it right away.”
Before the flight took off, Captain Maciej made a speech to the passengers, stating that “valuing people equally both in the air and on the ground and celebrating our identities no matter what they are with customers and our employees is important to us.”
He concluded with a RuPaul’s Drag Race reference, saying, “Shantay you all stay!” At that, the passengers erupted in laughter and applause.
Another airline in Canada, Flair, will celebrate its first “Drag Show in the Sky” this month on a flight from Toronto to Guadalajara.
“We’re throwing a drag show at 30,000 feet—because that’s the kind of airline we are,” Eric Tanner, vice president commercial at Flair, said in a statement. “Pride is about visibility, inclusion, and joy. This flight is all three. We’re proud to work alongside incredible partners to create something meaningful for our guests and communities—and to celebrate the vibrant diversity of everyone who works at Flair and chooses to fly with us.”
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