China Southern Airlines in Xinjiang begins self-defence classes for flight attendants
Classes started after deadly knife attacks at Kunming railway station last month
An airline is teaching self-defence to its cabin crews based in Xinjiang amid increased security concerns in the restive northwestern region.
China Southern Airlines staff in Urumqi started the classes on Tuesday, said Feng Mingyuan, a publicity official at the company.
Government officials have blamed Muslim separatists from Xinjiang for a mass knife attack at Kunming railway station in Yunnan province last month in which 33 people, including four assailants, were killed.
Mainland cities including Shanghai have increased the number of armed police officers on patrol in the wake of the attacks.
Crew at the airline will be taught by a serving air marshal in the People's Liberation Army.
"Self-defence is very important for flight attendants," the instructor, Guo Haojie, was quoted as saying in a report by the airline's training department.