86-year-old woman breaks record for oldest and longest-serving flight attendant

Jenny Goldsberry

July 02, 05:45 AM July 02, 05:45 AM

An American Airlines employee has broken the Guinness world record for simultaneously being the oldest and longest-serving flight attendant.

Boston's Bette Nash is 86 years old and began her career in 1957 working for Eastern Airlines, which eventually became American Airlines. Nash has reportedly flown the New York-Boston-Washington, D.C., shuttle ever since.

Reporter Sam Sweeney commemorated Nash's then-60th anniversary five years ago in a video shared to Twitter. Even back then was she considered the most senior and longest-serving attendant in the world.

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"As long as I have my health and I'm able, why not work? It's still fun," Nash said. "Plus, I've at least made my Diamond Jubilee, just like Queen Elizabeth."

Nash's anniversary comes amid a companywide shortage of employees, which has lead to flight delays and cancellations. A particular shortage of pilots led to American Airlines permanently canceling flights to Toledo, Ohio; Ithaca, New York; and Islip, New York, starting on Sept. 7.

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Several airlines have made similar cancellations in light of the labor shortage. Global companies are expected to lose $9.7 billion in 2022, according to data released on Monday by the International Air Transport Association. This comes after a $42.1 billion loss in 2021. The loss is expected to become a profit by 2023, according to the IATA.