Airline changes its gender-based uniform rules

Qantas has become the latest airline to relax gender-based uniform rules as it allows staff to wear make-up and have long hair regardless of sex.

As part of changes to its uniform style guide, women will not be required to wear high heels and make-up while on duty.

Both men and women will also be allowed to wear jewellery and grow their hair long, provided it is tied up while at work.

The change follows a call from Qantas trade union, Australian Services Union, last year to move the dress policy “into the 21st century”. Female staff had been asking to wear flat shoes on long-haul flights.

The uniforms themselves have not changed – although the male and female designations have been removed.

Pilots and cabin crew will still have to cover tattoos and the requirement to wear tights or stockings with skirts also remains.

The policy shift is part of a broader move by airlines to soften gender-based dress codes.

British Airways allowed women to wear trousers in 2016 and more recently Virgin Atlantic scrapped different clothing for men and women altogether.

Previously at Virgin, women had to wear a red uniform and men wore burgundy.

Qantas made the uniform announcement as it plans for new leadership.

A new chief executive is preparing to take the helm as Alan Joyce, who held the reigns for 15 years, plans to step down.

The Australian national carrier will appoint its chief financial officer Vanessa Hudson to take over from November.

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