Cabin Crew Appearance Requirements: Are Airlines Embracing Change?

In an industry as dynamic as aviation, one element seems to be lagging behind within many airlines…. somewhere in the 1950s in fact. Cabin crew appearance requirements. Yes – airline ‘look books’ have long included grooming guidelines, including acceptable make-up application, hair styles and wearing of uniforms. And until recently, most of these included very traditional ideas on cabin crew appearance and presentation.

In recent times, airlines finally seem to be acknowledging the need to embrace a more modern and diverse approach to cabin crew grooming. Keep reading to find out how.

Cabin Crew Appearance vs Safety and Security

Form-fitting skirts and tailored suits has been synonymous with airline glamour for decades. But, when your job trains you for the evacuation of hundreds of passengers from a confined space, we’re not sure heels and a pencil skirt is an ideal outfit. As passenger safety and security are now firmly front and centre in the cabin crew job spec, airlines are beginning to rethink the design of cabin crew uniforms and trying to find that balance between functionality and professionalism.

Diversity and Inclusion: Gender Neutral Uniforms

A significant stride towards inclusivity in cabin crew appearance is the introduction of gender-neutral uniforms. Airlines are breaking away from the traditional gender stereotypes of dresses for female crew and suits for males. BA, Virgin Atlantic, Air Canada, and Qantas are all leading the charge, having adopted gender-neutral designs and allowing cabin crew to choose the uniform items they prefer to wear regardless of gender identity.

Unfortunately, this choice has been limited on many airlines due to safety concerns for crew flying into countries where there is still significant discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community. But it’s a step in the right direction.

Cabin Crew Grooming

Another welcome leap into the twenty-twenties is the relaxing of the once stringent regulations surrounding make-up and visible tattoos. Airlines are beginning to recognise that self-expression does not compromise ability to open emergency exits in the pitch black. The wearing of make-up is no longer obligatory for Virgin, BA and Quantas cabin crew, who also allow it’s use (within specific guidelines) for all crew members regardless of gender identity.

Virgin Atlantic are the first airline to allow cabin crew to display visible tattoos – apart from on the neck and face. We’ll be interested to see who follows suit.

Upper Age Limits

As we covered in last weeks Cabin Crew Wings blog many airlines are increasingly recognising the value of experience and age diversity within cabin crew teams and have ditched upper age limits on crew members. Unfortunately, Air India don’t seem to have got the memo. Last year they issued a 39-page grooming handbook including new rules around cabin crew appearance requiring them to dye their grey hair and shave their head if they’re balding! What can we say. Most Middle Eastern airlines also maintain an age limit on cabin crew recruitment set around the mid-forties. Progress takes time!

The Reality for Cabin Crew

Despite very real changes within some airlines, there is still a long way to go in the industry as a whole in terms of cabin crew diversity and inclusion. Recent research from University of Surrey suggests that female cabin crew in particular still face pressures to conform to precise appearance expectations. With out-dated grooming standards still communicated through very detailed manuals, and often reinforced through colleague pressure.

So, whilst the winds of change are blowing, there is still work to be done to ensure a truly equitable and forward-thinking aviation industry. We’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. How do you feel about the changes outlined above and do you think enough is being done to engender more diversity and acceptance in the cabin crew community?

For information on major airline recruitment requirements and the latest job openings for cabin crew, head to our jobs board.

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Cabin Crew Wings Team

Our team of experts have the many years as Cabin Crew plus HR experience and are up to date with the latest selection news.

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