Turkish Airlines has grounded 28 flight attendants for being overweight and given them six months to slim down or face reassignment, a newspaper said on Saturday.

The employees, 13 of whom are women, are on unpaid leave until they lose weight, Haber Turk daily said, citing a statement from state-run Turkish Airlines. All of them previously had been warned to shape up, it added.

"Weight and height are important factors at all airlines. These criteria are important both in terms of appearance and the ability to move about," the statement said.

No one was available over the weekend at Turkish Airlines, Europe's fourth largest carrier by passenger volume, to confirm the report.

Izzet Levi, head of a cabin attendants' association who was among those furloughed, told Haber Turk he must drop 10 kilos (22 pounds) to reach 96 kilos if he is to return to his post.