Spring Airlines introduces flexible work and family care policies, allowing employees to choose their monthly flight hours freely

Recently, Spring Airlines piloted a series of employee care initiatives, including a policy for flight attendants with children under 3 years old called “Parenting Mom,” allowing female employees more time to spend with their children during critical parenting periods.

“Before, I was always worried when I received a flight assignment and my child was sick. Now, I can apply in advance for non-overnight flights based on my baby’s condition, which makes me feel much more at ease,” said a flight attendant who just returned to work after maternity leave, expressing her relief.

For a long time, flight attendants have found it difficult to balance work and family during their children’s early years due to irregular flight schedules and overnight stays. Under the new policy, female employees in parenting stages can choose to apply for up to three conveniences: not being assigned to overnight flights, avoiding flights departing after 6 p.m., and limiting monthly flying hours to 50, 60, or 70 hours.

This means new mothers can adjust their work schedules based on their child’s routine and family needs—avoiding overnight flights if their child needs their care at night, skipping late shifts if they want to have dinner with their children every day, or gradually resuming work by starting with 50 hours and increasing as needed.

“Before age three, a child’s emotional attachment is crucial. Being able to go home and hug my child every day is more important to me than anything else,” said a flight attendant applying for a monthly flight hour limit of 70 hours. The new policy has transformed her from passively accepting assignments to actively planning her work, making her time with her child more controllable and predictable.

While focusing on the childcare needs of female employees, these care policies also cover all flight attendants. Whether male attendants apply for family occasions like their wife’s wedding anniversary or senior staff request time off to celebrate their parents’ birthdays, they can do so through mechanisms like “Family Time Leave” and “Flexible Leave.” The “Points for Leave and Flying” policy is open to all staff, allowing each flight attendant to adjust their flight and rest schedules according to their personal rhythm. These initiatives demonstrate Spring Airlines’ overall concern for employees during key life milestones.

Industry experts believe that the introduction of these new policies indicates a subtle shift in the traditional perception of the cabin crew profession as a “youthful career.” In the past, many young women hesitated about their career prospects due to concerns about balancing work and motherhood after childbirth. Now, with flexible arrangements during parenting, gradual recovery of flying schedules through a points system, and more flexible flight assignments as children grow, this comprehensive approach allows flight attendants to transition smoothly and return to work with peace of mind, ensuring their careers are no longer interrupted or limited by parenting responsibilities.