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Steward vs. hôtesse de l'air vs. agent de bord vs. PNC

Word practice demo
While all these terms refer to professionals ensuring safety and comfort on a plane, the choice depends on gender, geography, and professional context. In France, distinctions between male (steward) and female (hôtesse de l'air) are common, while agent de bord is standard in Canada, and PNC is the technical industry term.

Steward

A2
This is an English loanword used specifically to refer to a male flight attendant. It is the masculine counterpart to hôtesse de l'air and is commonly used in everyday conversation in France.
Le steward a aidé le passager à ranger sa valise.
(The steward helped the passenger stow his suitcase.)
Mon frère travaille comme steward sur des vols long-courriers.
(My brother works as a steward on long-haul flights.)
Il a demandé un verre d'eau au steward qui passait dans l'allée.
(He asked the passing steward for a glass of water.)

Hôtesse de l'air

A2
This term refers specifically to a female flight attendant. It literally translates to hostess of the air and is the standard way to refer to women in this role in France.
L'hôtesse de l'air a servi le repas aux enfants en premier.
(The flight attendant served the meal to the children first.)
Depuis toute petite, elle rêve de devenir hôtesse de l'air.
(Since she was little, she has dreamed of becoming a flight attendant.)
Les hôtesses de l'air portent un uniforme très élégant.
(The flight attendants wear a very elegant uniform.)

Agent de bord

B2
This is a gender-neutral term equivalent to flight attendant. It is the primary standard term used in Quebec (Canada). In France, it sounds slightly more administrative but is understood.
Les agents de bord doivent parler au moins deux langues.
(Flight attendants must speak at least two languages.)
Air Canada recrute de nouveaux agents de bord cette année.
(Air Canada is hiring new flight attendants this year.)
Un agent de bord a vérifié que ma ceinture était bouclée.
(A flight attendant checked that my seatbelt was fastened.)

PNC

C1
This is an acronym for Personnel Navigant Commercial (Commercial Seafaring/Navigating Personnel). It is a technical term used inside the aviation industry, by pilots, or in safety manuals to refer to the cabin crew collectively.
PNC aux portes, armement des toboggans.
(Cabin crew to doors, arm slides.)
Le pilote a demandé aux PNC de s'asseoir à cause des turbulences.
(The pilot asked the cabin crew to sit down due to turbulence.)
Il faut passer un examen médical pour être apte en tant que PNC.
(You must pass a medical exam to be fit for duty as cabin crew.)

Summary

Use steward for men and hôtesse de l'air for women in casual conversation in France. Use agent de bord if you are in Quebec or prefer a gender-neutral term. Use PNC only in technical or professional aviation contexts.