Feature: First hostess recruitment by China Eastern in Italy attracts enthusiastic candidates

"I love flying and I am very much attracted by Asia. I talked with some girls in France and Germany who have been hired by China Eastern Airlines and were very satisfied. That is why I am here," said Luisa Santana, an Italian girl attending the first recruitment event in Italy by Chinese carrier China Eastern.

Santana told Xinhua she has worked for AlbaStar, a Spanish charter airlines, on a five-month contract. "Temporary contracts are now very widespread in Europe," she said. "This is something bad. It is just that they save money and can change the crew whenever they want."

The recruitment took place on Tuesday at the Ergife Palace Hotel, a venue in Italian capital Rome which is famous for often hosting big events.

Chen Xiao, general manager of China Eastern Airlines Rome branch, explained to Xinhua that Italy is the third country in Europe where the Shanghai-based carrier has started recruitment of local personnel, after France and Germany.

The interests shown by many candidates who have worked at important carriers like Italian national airline Alitalia, highlights the growing influence of Chinese companies as well as China's fast economic growth on the global level, Chen said.

"Italian passengers sometimes cannot speak English, they can only speak Italian," Chen went on saying.

There will be two Italian crew on every China Eastern Airlines flight. This not only will be useful for communication, especially in critical moments, but will make the Chinese carrier more international, embellished by so many beautiful smiles from different countries, he stressed.

A smile lightened up the face of Veronica Goslino, a girl from Rome, when she learnt that she had been selected in the first recruitment round. "I chose this company as she gives me the opportunity to be based in Rome, my city, and at the same time travel far away from here," she told Xinhua.

In her view, "China is the future," being a fast developing country which offers work opportunities presently absent in Italy. For example, Goslino told Xinhua, "it is very difficult to join some big companies in Italy unless you know someone in the company." She also said she refused to sign a contract with another airline company because "there was too much control of my personal life," she noted.

"I am ready to move to Shanghai if needed, it is an international city and I am sure I will not have problems in making new friends there," Goslino also added.

"We wish to bring the beautiful smiles of the world into our flights," said Wei Bo, deputy manager of Security Department at China Eastern Airlines and responsible for Tuesday's recruitment.

Wei said Chinese carriers are increasing their presence abroad. Italy, he added, is a favorite destination of Chinese passengers. "We hope that the Rome-Shanghai flight will become more and more international, offering excellent service to both Chinese and Italian tourists and business travelers," he explained.

"I think I have a feel for this work, I have an aptitude for hanging out with people, I would love this to become my job," said another candidate, Giorgia. "I think that China's culture is not so well-known in Italy yet, and being a bridge between the two cultures can be an important role," she said.

Giorgia told Xinhua that she studies Mandarin thus would be very happy to work for a Chinese company. "They asked us to introduce ourselves in English, and what we thought and knew about China Eastern Airlines. Before the interview I was feeling a bit anxious, but now I am feeling good," she said.

The newly hired crew are scheduled to undergo a two-month training so that will likely start flying at springtime. The French crew have already taken office, while the Germans are doing their training. Recruitment programs are also underway in Japan, Korea and the United States.

China Eastern Airlines opened its Rome-Shanghai route in March 2011, and since then the number of passengers has increased by as much as some 20 percent each year. The company plans to further develop, with a Rome-Wenzhou flight and other routes in particular focusing on the needs of Chinese nationals living abroad. Endit