Customers flying with British Airways will now notice that its customer-facing employees, including cabin staff, pilots, and airport personnel, are wearing the airline’s new distinctive uniform collection across the world. 

The airline debuted its new uniform in January, with operational ground workers wearing it for the first time in May. Ozwald Boateng OBE, a British-Ghanaian fashion designer and master tailor, created the collection with the support of more than 1,500 workers from across the business involved in the end-to-end process, including design workshops, prototype feedback, and wearer trials.

Boateng’s collection features 96 distinct garments that combine style and functionality, making it the most extensive range of garments the airline has ever offered its staff. Cabin Crew and airport staff may select from a dress, skirt, trouser suit, or, in an airline first, a stunning jumpsuit. The male wardrobe comprises a sleek three-piece tailored suit with the option of slim or regular-fit pants.

A staggering 850,000 garments have been made for the airline’s more than 30,000 staff, with British Airways revealing that the dress and trench coat are the most popular garments ordered. Short-sleeved blouses and shirts have proven to be more popular than long-sleeved shirts.

“We’re excited to start the final phase of the rollout of our brand-new uniform for more than 30,000 colleagues,” said Calum Laming, British Airways’ Chief Customer Officer. The trendy and sophisticated collection gives our employees more options than ever before to express their unique identities at work. Our staff have always been at the centre of our brand, so this launch recognises them and the work they perform to care for our customers.”

The airline’s uniform comprises distinctive materials and designs throughout the range. The suits, a key component of the airline’s customer-facing uniform, are made of a jacquard cloth with a pattern reminiscent of the airline’s trademark speed logo. A characteristic component of the uniform is the scarves and ties, which have an airwave design inspired by air passing across the wing of an aeroplane.

As part of its BA Better World commitments, British Airways’ new uniform and ambitions to reuse its current uniform have both prioritised sustainability. More than 90% of the outfits are created using sustainable fabric from mixes of recycled polyester, and the new uniform’s cotton has been acquired through the ‘Better Cotton Initiative’. This is the world’s premier cotton sustainability effort, aiming to assist cotton communities to survive and thrive while preserving and restoring the environment.

Uniform repurposing by the airline includes delivering shirt materials to schools in Bangladesh and donating unused clothes to schools and homeless organisations in Hounslow, which is close to the company’s home at London Heathrow Terminal 5. The airline has partnered with several businesses to upcycle the Julien Macdonald outfits into customer-purchasable goods such as teddy bears, passport holders, and purses. More information on how the airline repurposes its other garments will be revealed later this year.

‘Treat Yourself’ bars have been put up at airports to help airline employees feel their best in their new outfits. The airline has teamed with British companies ELEMIS and GHD to provide employees with an array of refreshing products to pamper themselves and the ability to style their hair at these bars before their shifts. Make-up artists and hair stylists are on hand to help colleagues with swift touch-ups so they may look and feel amazing in their brand-new uniforms. Experts are also available to provide skincare advice for those who want a more natural appearance.