Last year Air India warned 600 crew members that if they did not lose weight, they would not be allowed to work on the airline's flights.

Now that the period to shape-up has passed, 125 members of staff have been permanently grounded by the national carrier.

The company measured the body mass index (BMI) of 3,500 staff members and said that air hostesses with a 'normal weight' have a BMI of between 18 and 22, those who were between 22 and 27 were said to be overweight - and those with a BMI of more than 27 were classed as obese.

Ireland's Health Service Executive says that people with a BMI of more than 30 are as obese - the index measures body fat against a person's height and weight.

The airline claimed in 2013 that it saved £329,000 per-year by not using male flight attendants as their female counterparts are on average 33 to 44 pounds lighter.

The state-run Indian airline now says that these 125 workers are "permanently unfit for their job as flight attendants" - they will be moved to new positions on the ground.

"People who are fitter can respond quicker and more efficiently in case of any untoward situation," was one of the justifications offered by the airline.

In 2009 ten flight attendants were taken off flight duties after being deemed to have been too unfit to fly.

The move has been criticised by the All India Cabin Crew Association - who described it as a "ridiculous" policy which is "unacceptable."