Flight Attendants At This Surprising Airline Will Swap Skirts for Pant Suits and High-Heels for Sneakers

A Ukrainian airline has banished skirts and high-heels from its flight attendant uniform and will instead let crew wear Nike Air Max sneakers and dress in bright orange pantsuits. Airlines in the region have traditionally embraced stereotypical flight attendants uniforms with white-gloved female cabin crew still a common sight.

But after studying the history and evolution of the flight attendant uniform from the 1930’s up to the present day, the Frame Fashion Consultancy came up with a radically different look for SkyUp Airlines – Ukraine’s largest carrier.

“Times have changed, women have changed, so in contrast to the conservative classics, heels, red lipstick and a bun, a new, more modern and comfortable image of a “champion” has appeared,” explained SkyUp’s head of marketing, Marianna Grigorash.

After talking with its own flight attendants, SkyUp realised that its crew still wanted to look smart and professional but they also have active lifestyles and want to look after themselves. From there, the idea to ditch high-heels came about.

They were replaced with Nike Air Max 720 sneakers – chosen because they are made of 75 per cent recycled materials and because the cushioning would allow flight attendants to stay comfortable while standing on their feet all day.

SkyUp wanted a nod to tradition, so got Ukrainian brand the GUNIA project to design a new silk scarf that will now be worn through an epaulette rather than around the neck. Finishing off the look is a leather trenchcoat and an orange suitcase from the Have a Rest brand.

It’s a big departure from SkyUp’s old uniform but it doesn’t go nearly as far as the new Icelandic airline Play which unveiled a gender non-specific uniform in June that lets flight attendants wear any piece of uniform from the entire collection.

And just like SkyUp, sneakers will be worn by Play’s flight attendants.