A good year is in store for flight attendant hopefuls, as foreign carriers plan to recruit a huge number of Korean cabin crews.

Foreign airlines hired more than 450 Korean crew staff this year, and plan to recruit more next year, following their adoption of more aircraft amid growing air travel market and Korean attendants' high quality.

According to ANC, a flight attendant recruitment agency, airlines in the Middle East are expected to recruit about 400 Korean flight attendants; other Asian carriers, 400; and European ones, 200.

Most airlines recruit flight attendants on demand.

Among Middle Eastern carriers, Emirates has actively recruited Korean attendants. The United Arab Emirates-based carrier selects female attendants from other countries, as women of the Arabian country are required to wear a chador.

The carrier hired about 100 Korean cabin crew members this year, and plans to increase the quota in 2008.

Another Middle Eastern airline Qatar Airways, which picked about 80 attendants this year, will recruit more.

China Eastern Airlines, one of the Chinese carriers that are expanding their business ahead of the Olympic Games in Beijing next year, will also recruit more than 200, the number of Korean attendants it selected this year.

Singapore Airlines and Philippine Airlines, which already have Korean attendants, will hire a larger number of Koreans than previous years. Some European airlines, including Italian carrier Alitalia, plan to launch operations in South Korea and recruit Korean cabin crews.

Foreign carriers select Korean attendants not only because they operate in South Korea, but also because Korean cabin crew are trained to provide high quality service, a director of ANC said.

"As the job of a flight attendant is popular among young Korean women, there are many attendant hopefuls and many qualified ones compared to those in other countries. Due to the high competition, Korean hopefuls are well prepared and trained, with strong enthusiasm toward the job," he said.

In South Korea, many flight attendant hopefuls attend stewardess training centers, sharing recruitment information, preparing for Korean and English interviews, and taking courses in good manners, appearance and attitude.

Korean carriers - Korean Air and Asiana Airlines - also plan to recruit hundreds of cabin crew each. Korean Air, which hired more than 500 attendants this year, will recruit more along with its expansion of services.

Photograph: A flight attendant hopeful learns how to bow correctly at a stewardess training center in southern Seoul in this file photo. Foreign carriers recruit many Korean cabin crew for their high professional standing.