Flight Attendant Uniforms Are Ditching Gender

Some airlines are changing their dress codes, letting any attendant wear dresses, suits or high heels By Rory Satran Feb. 19, 2023 Tap story

Even as politicians and business people of all genders began to favor pantsuits in the 1990s, and androgynous streetwear became the norm in the 2000s, airplanes were throwback zones of traditional gender roles and rigidly defined uniforms. Some airlines are now making moves toward inclusivity that are notable in the context of an industry that has sometimes lagged behind the times.

In the 1930s, female flight attendants were on-flight nurses and evolved to become safety and service professionals. A flight attendant, circa 1935. Photo: Getty

They were required to wear dresses, high heels, makeup, submit to regular weigh-ins—and be single. Flight attendants in 1956. Photo: Getty

In the late 1960s, the Texas carrier Braniff, now defunct, premiered its “Air Strip” campaign, promoting uniforms for its “hostesses”—designed to be removed in a series of outfit changes while onboard. Lest a passenger worry that the striptease distract from his service, one 1966 ad reassured him that, “Each change is made in a flash, which allows her to give you constant attention.”

As conversations about identity evolve, some airlines are now expanding their uniform policy to allow people of all genders to select whichever uniform makes them most comfortable. New uniforms from Virgin Atlantic. Photo: Virgin Atlantic

In 2022, Alaska Airlines and Virgin Atlantic began allowing all flight crew members to wear whichever uniform they wished, regardless of gender, and introduced badges indicating pronouns. Virgin Atlantic

“I used to be one of those people that would walk through work with my head down, just keeping to myself, and when I wear the dress, it makes me feel more confident.” Tyler Perry, a JetBlue in-flight crew member. Tyler Perry

Korea’s low-cost Aero K airline boasts contemporary-looking pieces for all genders like diagonal-stripe tops and navy jackets. Aero K

In 2021, Iceland’s Play Airlines debuted non-gender-specific uniforms like boxy blazers and pants, paired with sneakers instead of high heels and brogues. Iceland Play

And Canada’s WestJet redid its uniforms in 2022 with an eye to gender inclusivity, letting employees choose between “Lakes” and “Rocky Mountain” collections instead of “women” and “men.” WestJet

British Airways, which is rolling out new uniforms this year, is keeping gender demarcations in place but announced that it would allow male crew members to wear makeup, jewelry and handbags. British Airways crew members in 2020. Photo: Getty

Over the decades, advocacy for inclusion of genders, people of color and different body types has been significantly boosted by flight-attendant unions.

“The flight attendant profession has been steeped in discrimination and sexism from the beginning of its existence as a career, and our union has fought back every step of the way,” said Taylor Garland, spokesperson for the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. A new Virgin Atlantic uniform. Photo: Virgin Atlantic

Must all airlines change, and how much? Federal law in the U.S. does uphold the right for employers to implement a dress code. But recent lawsuits in various states have challenged the notion that such a dress code may be sex-specific without being discriminatory. A new Iceland Play uniform. Photo: Iceland Play Read the full story

Cover image by Virgin Atlantic Produced by Leah Latella Read the full story