An all-male air flight attendant team was set up Wednesday in west China's Guizhou Province, ending female-only flight attendants on Chinese airlines, according to Thursday's Shenzhen Daily.

The team, set up by Air China, includes nine male attendants with an average age of 23.

It was the first male flight-attendant team in China, Sheng Xiaofang, Party chief of the Air China's Guizhou branch, told Xinhua News Agency.

The team would start service next week, after receiving 80 days' training in Chengdu, said Sheng.

Huang Dan, an Air China official, said male flight attendants were as good as their female counterparts.

"Male stewards are more reliable in maintaining security, placing luggage, and dealing with emergencies," said Huang.

A survey by Air China found that passengers preferred males to female flight attendants.

A notice would be placed at the entrance of aircraft using male flight attendants, said Huang.

(Shenzhen Daily June 10, 2004)