Air India, employer of the nine flight attendants, insists it has the right to fire cabin staff it considers physically unfit. Although details were not given about the specific weight of the employees, all were described as “significantly overweight,” based on height, age and gender.

The company has fought for years for the right to terminate its unfit workforce. In 2006, it warned 1,600 cabin crew employees that they’d need to get in better shape within two months — or risk being placed in lesser-paying ground duties.

Last year, an Indian court found in favor of the airline, which lead to the firings earlier this week.

Air India claims fitness and efficiency are the reasons for its weight standards, and that although all nine of the cabin crew terminated were women, there is no gender bias.