Overview
Pursers and flight attendants ensure the safety and comfort of passengers and crew members during flights. Ship pursers attend to the safety and comfort of passengers aboard ships. Airline pursers and flight attendants are employed by airline companies. Ship pursers are employed by tour boat or cruise ship companies.
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Flight attendants
Greet passengers, explain and demonstrate safety procedures, check the general condition of the aircraft cabin, ensure that all necessary supplies are on board
Attend to safety of passengers during take-offs, landings and emergencies
Serve food and beverages to passengers and make flight announcements.
Flight pursers, customer service directors and passenger service directors
Coordinate the activities of flight attendants, provide service to passengers during flight and complete reports.
Ship pursers
Supervise ship attendants and arrange activities for passengers
Conduct ship's business, such as signing on crew, maintaining payroll records, assisting passengers in preparing customs declarations and supervising baggage storage.
Employment prospects
Annual salary
$52,140
$72,058
$133,478
Job openings
Use this interactive map to explore job openings in different regions across B.C.
British Columbia
410expected job openings (5-year forecast)
Education and training
Employment requirements
Flight attendants and flight pursers require the completion of secondary school and a training program approved by Transport Canada.
Flight pursers/customer service directors require experience as a flight attendant.
Ship pursers may require experience as a ship attendant.
Additional information
There is little mobility between airline pursers and ship pursers.
It is an advantage for pursers and flight attendants to speak more than one language.
Certification requirements
Post-secondary programs in B.C.
No post-secondary education required
No post-secondary education required. You can work in this career without post-secondary education. Some on the job training may be provided. With additional training or experience, you may be able to progress into higher level, supervisory or management positions.