British Airways will introduce a new uniform in the Spring of 2023 for the first time in nearly 20 years. More than 30,000 airline staff will wear the bespoke uniforms designed by celebrated British fashion designer and tailor Ozwald Boateng.
The new collection has been in development for the past four years, and more than 1,500 British Airways staff had input into the designs – with secret trials taking place during the last six months – testing the practicalities, resilience, durability and longevity of the collection with the airline’s flight and cabin crew, cargo and maintenance teams.
Male staff will be wearing a tailored three-piece suit with regular and slim-fit trousers, with a dress, skirt and trouser options for women — alongside a brand-new modern jumpsuit, which BA claims is a world first among airlines. Other options will include a tunic and hijab.
The new collection aims to inspire and empower the airline’s colleagues and encourage them to perform their roles with pride. An airwave pattern – inspired by the movement of air over the wing will be seen across the entire collection, while a variation of the airline’s iconic speedmarque emblem will feature on the jacquard fabric of tailored garments.
Ground operation agents and engineers will be among the first to adorn the new uniform in Spring 2023, with pilots, cabin crew and check-in agents swapping their Julien Macdonald-designed uniforms in the summer.
British Airways’ commitment to sustainability and quality means that more than 90 per cent of the new garments are produced using sustainable fabrics from blends of recycled polyester, and the airline will only use manufacturers that are members of the ‘Better Cotton’ initiative. Additionally, the phased-out uniforms will be donated to charities, recycled as toys and other items, or gifted to the airline’s museum.
Last year, Virgin Atlantic unveiled new gender neutral uniforms for all its staff and stated that male pilots could wear skirts - something British Airways has not implemented.
Read the First-Class.com review of British Airways Business Class
Read the First-Class.com review of British Airways First Class
