Qantas Issues New Rules For Employees: Long Hair To Flat Shoes Allowed

Illustration of Qantas airline staff. (Twitter/@Qantas)

JAKARTA - Australia's airline, Qantas, has just issued a new guide for its employees regarding windowing and uniform style.

From now on, the staff - including the cabin crew - can have long hair (provide being carried or locked by a horse), wearing makeup or not wearing makeup according to their choice, wearing glasses and not a contact lens (as long as their contact lens is clear), and wearing flat shoes.

"This update does not change our uniform, but modernizes the way employees wear it according to feedback from employees and the growing expectations of customers," Qantas' representative said in a statement.

This guide also applies to the company's low-cost airline, Jetstar.

Previously, there were separate regulations for male and female employees. Now, a set of regulations applies to everyone.

"Our uniform is a symbol of our iconic brand and our employees are very proud to wear it. The mode has changed, as have our style guidelines over the years," the company said.

"We are proud of our diversity and also updating our guidelines, this change will make our wearing of uniforms more comfortable and practical for all of our employees, including those with various body shapes and those from diverse cultural backgrounds," the company continued.

However, there are still some rules that will not change. Crew members who choose to wear dresses or skirts, will be required to wear socks. And, although it doesn't matter for cabin crew to have tattoos, they have to cover their ink while working.

It is known, Qantas is one of several airlines that have chosen to reconsider the dress code of their employees in recent years.

Previously, Virgin Atlantic removed last year's special guidelines for men and women, when it launched a gender neutral uniform designed by Vivienne Westwood.

In 2022, British Airways announced that they will allow all cabin crew to use makeup, beards, piercings, jewelry and nail polish next to their uniforms.