Jobless Mexican stewardesses launch sexy calendar

Ten stewardesses with troubled Mexicana airlines, which filed for bankruptcy in August and suspended operations, launched a sultry aviation-themed calendar on Thursday in a bid to call attention to their own plight and that of their airline — one of the world's oldest.

The 2011 calendar features glossy shots of the flight attendants, clad only in bikinis and aviation shades or abbreviated uniforms, draped over propellers and striking racy poses in the cockpit. It was the brainchild of 10-year Mexicana veteran Coral Perez.

Ten stewardesses with troubled Mexicana airlines, which filed for bankruptcy in August and suspended operations, launched a sultry aviation-themed calendar on Thursday in a bid to call attention to their own plight and that of their airline — one of the world's oldest.

Women who worked as Mexicana airlines stewardesses before the company stopped flying last August when it declared bankruptcy, pose for a photo on the rooftop of a building in Mexico City. (AP Photo)

Gina Agular, 29, right, Coral Perez, left, and an unidentified colleague apply some make-up prior to a photo session in Mexico City. (AP Photo)
Former Mexicana airlines employees Maribel Zavala, 26, left, and Coral Perez, apply some make-up prior to a photo session. (AP Photo)
Ten former Mexicana stewardesses have teamed up efforts and savings to produce a pin-up calendar as a way to earn some money and also attract attention to the plight of the airline in hopes of getting their jobs back. (AP Photo)

The 2011 calendar features glossy shots of the flight attendants, clad only in bikinis and aviation shades or abbreviated uniforms, draped over propellers and striking racy poses in the cockpit. It was the brainchild of 10-year Mexicana veteran Coral Perez. (AP Photo)
Each of the 10 "aeromozas" — or flight attendants in Spanish — who ended up posing forked out money from her own pockets to help cover the production costs of 100,000 pesos (about $8,000). (AP Photo)
The calendar has sparked a media frenzy in Mexico, and the first run of 1,000 was sold out even before Thursday's launch. A second edition of 3,000 calendars — which retail for 149 pesos, or about $12, apiece — is in the works. (AP Photo)