Air India flight attendants could be sorry if they don't lose the excess baggage. The airline is warning its male and female crew members to shape up in two months -- or else. The directive applies to overweight pilots, stewards and stewardesses.

If they don't lose the extra pounds, they may be reassigned to ground duties. One Indian newspaper, the Hindustan Times, reported that many of the older flight attendants are obese. An Air India spokesman said increasing competition means its flight crews must look trim and fit. He wouldn't say how people would be affected by the order to lose weight.

Air India has an excellent safety record. However it is has a reputation for dowdy looking aircraft, lengthy delays and sloppy service. Air travel is booming in India with the industry growing at 25 percent annually. Several budget carriers launched in the past year are attracting first-time flyers, and officials expect the number of passengers to increase from 50 million in India by 2010 from 14 million now.