Taiwan Airlines Remove Full Names From Crew Badges
Major Taiwanese airlines are removing flight attendants' full Mandarin names from their badges to combat doxxing and online harassment, following union
Several major airlines in Taiwan are removing full Mandarin names from flight attendant name badges. The move is a direct response to fears that workers are being targeted for doxxing, online harassment, and stalking by passengers who identify them online.
According to the Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union, a survey of frontline crew at EVA Air found that nearly 40% had reported some form of online harassment or abuse. Traditionally, airlines like China Airlines and Starlux required badges displaying both the Mandarin first and last name. Workers argued this made it simple for them to be tracked down on social media platforms.
Low-cost carrier Tigerair Taiwan was the first to act, replacing full names with aliases earlier this year. Its full-service rivals initially resisted the change, even though Taiwan's Ministry of Labor supported it to protect worker privacy. Starlux, for instance, had insisted that displaying full names helped international customers identify staff more easily.
Airline Policy Changes
Last month, China Airlines announced it would remove Mandarin first names from employee badges. The carrier's updated badges, which will feature the Mandarin surname and an English alias, are scheduled to start rolling out from March 2027.
EVA Air and Starlux have now followed suit after initially reviewing their policies. EVA Air will display the Mandarin surname and an employee ID number on badges. Starlux will display the Mandarin surname alongside an English alias.
The policy shift marks a significant victory for flight attendant unions in Taiwan. The relationship between airlines and these unions has been strained in recent years as representatives push for greater rights for their members.
Broader Context of Reforms
This change is not the first concession won by flight crews. In 2025, female flight attendants at EVA Air were finally permitted to wear trousers as part of their uniform. This followed a 100-page report from Taiwan's National Human Rights Commission on gender discrimination at airlines including China Airlines, EVA Air, and Starlux.
The report concluded that female flight attendants were at a "comparative disadvantage" due to "highly specific requirements regarding hair and makeup," and the mandate to wear skirts, which could hinder evacuation speeds.
Further historical context shows a pattern of gradual reform. EVA Air did not hire any male flight attendants until 2019. That change only occurred after a major strike by crew members crippled operations. One condition for ending the strike was the airline overturning its longstanding ban on hiring men for cabin crew roles. Despite the policy change, male crew members remain a small minority within the airline's workforce.
