Qantas Airline Allows Crew To Ditch High Heels, Wearing Makeup For Any Gender

The changes that Qantas has announced are - uniforms will be gender fluid, high heels will be ditched for flats, and the crew can now opt to wear makeup irrespective of their genders.

The Australian national airline Qantas, in response to long-held frustrations by staff, announced a change in the uniform for the crew. Amid the modernising workplaces and evolving customer expectations, the changes that the airline has announced are- Uniforms will now be gender fluid, high heels will be ditched for flats, the crew will be allowed to grow their hair and they can now opt to wear makeup irrespective of their genders, reported the Guardian.

The airline did not change the uniform of the crew but scrapped the designated 'male' and 'female' uniform determinations. A Qantas spokeswoman while talking to the media said, “The female cabin crew which was earlier expected to wear high heels on long-haul flights have now been asked to wear more comfortable and practical flat shoes.” She added on to say that some male cabin crew expressed their desire to wear concealer and foundation, as, "These changes will make wearing our uniform more comfortable and practical."

Flat shoes can now be worn by all the staff and now all the crew members can wear long hair in a low ponytail or bun. All employees can now wear the same jewellery, including watches and diamond earrings. A dress or skirt will still be required to go with hosiery though. Tattoos will also still be concealed. 

The spokeswoman added, “The update doesn’t change our uniform but modernises the way employees wear it in line with employee feedback and evolving customer expectations."

The Australian Services Union had earlier written to the Qantas chief executive, Alan Joyce, requesting the makeup and high-heel requirements to be eased for women. Following this, the Qantas in a statement said that the uniform standards had always been reflective of the times.

The statement read, “In the 80s, sideburns had to stop at mid-ear, “gelled spikes” were out and we recommended navy blue as the best eyeliner colour. In the 70s, women had to wear skirts above the knee. Today, our employees can choose whether or not to wear makeup, flat shoes and boots are in, and strict rules on watch sizes are out.”