Aer Lingus
International Airlines Group (IAG) carrier Aer Lingus is set to unveil new uniforms for cabin crew and frontline ground agents later this year.
The airline’s current teal green uniform was launched in 1998, and was created by Irish fashion designer Louise Kennedy, who has again been commissioned for the revamp.
Aer Lingus said it had carried out “extensive feedback” with staff to get their views on the current uniform, and to “discuss what the new uniform should address in terms of frontline ground agents and cabin crews’ needs in today’s working environment”.
Earlier this year the airline unveiled a brand identity, with its iconic shamrock logo redesigned to feature heart-shaped leaves.
Air New Zealand
New Zealand’s flag carrier has announced plans to redesign the uniforms for its 4,500 cabin crew and airport staff.
The airline says it will invite a selection of local designers to submit proposals, including Dame Trelise, creator of the airline’s current pink, green and blue uniforms, which were launched in 2011.
The chosen designer(s) are set to be unveiled this year, with the successful submission expected to meet criteria including sustainable sourcing credentials, and “a proven track record in the New Zealand fashion industry”.
The new uniforms are expected to roll out in 2021, ahead of the arrivals of the carrier’s new long-haul aircraft fleet and new onboard product “around 2023”.
Alaska Airlines
US carrier Alaska Airlines is set to roll out new uniforms from late 2019 across 19,000 staff.
The airline spent two years developing the new uniforms, which were designed by American fashion designer Luly Yang.
The revamped clothing takes cues from the sleek uniforms of Virgin America, which Alaska Airlines acquired in December 2016, with Yang describing the designs as a “combination of the two cultures, Alaska and Virgin, coming together”.
Alitalia
The Italian carrier may have spent the last two years in administrative limbo, but that didn’t stop it from launching new look uniforms for ground and inflight crew last year.
Created by designer and dressmaker Alberta Ferretti, both the male and female uniforms are made from “seasonless lightweight fine gauge blue wool”, with design elements including satin gold buttons engraved with the letter “A”.
Female jackets are marked at the waist with a gros-gain ribbon in the tricolor of the Italian flag, with accessories including leather gloves and silk twill foulards and ties.
British Airways
Set to be unveiled later this year as part of the carrier’s centenary celebrations, BA said that Boateng “will be working closely with the airline’s employees throughout the development process, from shadowing them to understand their roles and how the uniforms need to perform, to design, testing and final delivery”.
British Airways has launched a series of celebratory initiatives to coincide with its 100th year, including retro-liveried aircraft, a reimagined Flower Duet theme, a limited-edition Marmite jar, and a bespoke ale in partnership with Brewdog.
To read more about previous British Airways uniforms
Delta
The US carrier launched its new Zac Posen-designed uniforms in May last year, around three years after the partnership was first announced.
A total of seven colours have been incorporated into the new uniforms, which have been rolled out to 60,000 uniformed employees.
The airline also launched what it says was one of the largest, single company textile landfill diversion programmes in US history, donating old returned uniforms to charitable organisations, and upcycling them into backpacks, travel kits and passport covers.
Hainan Airlines
Chinese carrier Hainan Airlines launched its new uniforms in 2018, created by fashion designer Lawrence Xu.
The uniforms combine traditional Chinese elements including cheongsam dresses for women and jackets with Mandarin collars for men, along with more Western touches such as double-breasted coats.
CEO Sun Jianfeng said at the time that the new designs would “herald a new beginning” for the airline, forming part of a comprehensive upgrade of the carrier’s product and services.
The carrier has since unveiled a new Dream Feather design overhaul for its B787 aircraft, featuring the addition of a new “Super Economy” class.
Turkish Airlines
The Turkish flag carrier has unveiled a new cabin crew uniform designed by Milan-based Haute Couturier Ettore Bilotta.
The design celebrates the airline’s 85 year history and is being rolled out following opening of the new Istanbul Airport (for a guide to the facility click here).
The new uniforms incorporate traditional patterns found in artisanal Turkish glassware, ceramics and calligraphy with contemporary textures and details, as well as combining shapes and colours found in Istanbul Bosphorus with a new ‘flow detail’, created to symbolise the effortless and dynamic energy flowing through Turkey’s most dynamic city as an intersection between East and West”.
United
United Airlines has announced plans to partner with three design and apparel companies for its new uniforms.
Brooks Brothers will design and manufacture uniforms for all United pilots and for male flight attendants and customer service representatives, while American fashion design house Tracy Reese will partner with the men’s clothier to design the female uniforms which will be manufactured by Brooks Brothers.
US work clothes manufacturer Carhartt will outfit ramp service, technical operations and catering operations employees, while Tumi will become the official luggage provider for all of United’s 24,000 flight attendants, with employees receiving their choice of either a two-wheel or four-wheel bags.
Over 70,000 front-line employees will be kitted out with the new uniforms, with the rollout expected in 2020.
Zipair Tokyo
Japan Airlines’ low-cost subsidiary is set to launch next summer, initially with routes from Tokyo Narita to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and Seoul-Incheon International using B787-8 aircraft.
The airline recently unveiled its livery and crew uniform designs, the latter of which have been created by fashion designer Taro Horiuchi.
Early design images suggest a largely monochrome black and white colour scheme, with a splash of green on female crew neck scarves.
