Qantas changes the rules for the appearance and clothing of its employees

(CNN) — No more high heels: Australian airline Qantas has just released new guidelines for its employees on grooming and uniforms.

From now on, staff – including cabin crew – can wear long hair (as long as it’s tied up in a low bun or ponytail), wear make-up or not wear make-up as they prefer, wear glasses instead of contact lenses (as long as be transparent) and wear flat shoes.

“The update does not change our uniform, but rather modernises the way employees wear it, in line with employee feedback and evolving customer expectations,” a Qantas representative said in a statement.

The guidelines also apply to the company’s low-cost airline, Jetstar.

Before there were different rules for male and female employees. Now there is a single set of requirements for everyone.

“Our uniforms are a symbol of our iconic brand and our people are very proud to wear them. Fashions change, and so have our style guidelines over the years,” the company said in a statement. “We are proud of our diversity and, in addition to updating our guidelines, these changes will make wearing our uniform more comfortable and practical for all of our employees, including those with a wide variety of body types and those who come from diverse cultural backgrounds. “.

However, there are some things that will not change. Crew members who choose to wear dresses or skirts must wear stockings. And while they may have tattoos, they must be covered while working.

It’s not just Qantas: the changing fashion of airlines

Qantas is one of several airlines that have chosen to reconsider their employee dress codes in recent years.

Virgin Atlantic dropped specific guidelines for men and women last year and debuted gender-neutral uniforms designed by Vivienne Westwood.

The uniforms were intended to allow employees to “embrace their individuality and be themselves at work,” according to a Virgin statement. The airline also added an option for crew members to include their pronouns on their name tags.

In 2022, British Airways announced that it would allow all cabin crew members to wear makeup, stubble, piercings, jewelry and nail polish alongside their uniforms.

“We are proud of all our colleagues at British Airways and are committed to an inclusive work environment,” a representative for the airline told CNN at the time.