FORT WORTH- American Airlines (AA) is grieving the loss of its longest-serving flight attendant, Bette Nash, who passed away on May 17th. Nash, who worked at the Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier for several decades, held the world record for the longest tenure as a flight attendant.
Her remarkable career granted her the privilege of selecting any route she preferred, primarily opting for short flights in the Northeast.
American Airlines Bette Nash
Brady Byrnes, American’s Senior Vice President of Inflight & Premium Guest Services, and Bobbi Wells, the airline’s Vice President of Inflight, confirmed Nash’s passing in an internal memo shared by JonNYC on Saturday.
“It is with sadness that we inform you of the passing of our dear colleague, Bette Nash, the longest-tenured flight attendant at American Airlines. She had been flying for nearly 67 years.”
American Airlines on X wrote:
We mourn the passing of Bette Nash, who spent nearly seven decades warmly caring for our customers in the air. She started in 1957 and held the Guinness World Record for longest-serving flight attendant. Bette inspired generations of flight attendants. Fly high, Bette.”
Nash began her aviation career in 1957 with Eastern Airlines in Washington, DC. Following a series of mergers, she joined American Airlines in the late 1980s, where she continued to fly her favorite route: the shuttle service between New York, Washington, DC, and Boston.
According to ABC News, Nash preferred these short routes as they allowed her to return home every night to care for her handicapped son.
Longest Serving Flight Attendant
Times have certainly changed since Bette Nash first started flying. She recalled how passengers used to buy life insurance from vending machines before boarding. American Airlines would even monitor her off-duty life to ensure she wasn’t living with a man, as flight attendants were required to be single. Additionally, the airline weighed her before shifts, with the threat of suspension if she gained too much weight.
“It used to be horrible. You put on a few pounds, and you had to keep weighing yourself. If you stayed that way, they would take you off the payroll,” Nash explained in a 2017 interview with Arlington ABC affiliate WJLA.
She also mentioned that early flights between New York and Washington cost about $12, and passengers were given cigarettes and matches after meal service.
“It’s just been the perfect career path,” she reflected in 2022. “It’s given my love of people an outlet, and I like to think I’ve provided good service to others.”
Nash passed away at the age of 88 on May 17th after being in hospice care due to breast cancer. According to ABC 7 News (KGO), she never officially retired from her position at American Airlines.
She continued to attend flight attendant training regularly, according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.
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