U.K.-based airline Virgin Atlantic announced Wednesday that its flight crew will no longer be required to wear gendered uniforms, also introducing pronoun pins.
Virgin Atlantic rolled out a new gender policy in its latest effort to become “the most inclusive airline in the skies,” according to a press release, allowing its flight attendants, gate agents, and pilots the ability to choose a uniform that “best represents them — no matter their gender, gender identity, or gender expression.”
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Crew members can now choose between the airline’s red uniform, traditionally worn by women, which includes a blazer and skirt, or its burgundy uniform, traditionally worn by men, which includes a suit coat and long pants. Both uniforms are designed by Vivienne Westwood.
Virgin Atlantic cited a 3Gem study in its press release that polled 2,000 adults aged 18+ across the United Kingdom and found that when employees feel enabled to be their “true selves at work,” they feel an increased sense of loyalty to their employer by 21% and a greater sense of happiness by 65%.
We’ve changed our uniform code to give our crew, pilot and ground teams the option to choose which of our iconic uniforms, designed by Vivienne Westwood, best represents them ? #SeeTheWorldDifferently pic.twitter.com/dbCP4WxObl
— virginatlantic (@VirginAtlantic) September 28, 2022
The announcement included a photo shoot with current crew members and television personality Michelle Visage, best known as a judge on the reality competition show RuPaul’s Drag Race. Visage is seen in the red uniform, showing off the tattoos on her leg, representing the airline’s recent tolerance of tattoos.
“As a mother of a non-binary child and as an LGBTQ+ community ally, I’m proud to be involved in this new announcement from Virgin Atlantic,” Visage wrote on Instagram. “Let’s change the world — one pressed, fabulous uniform at a time! The world is our runway!”
Virgin Atlantic previously updated its dress code in 2019, retreating from its standard of requiring female flight attendants to wear makeup and heels while in uniform. While many airlines allow the attendants to change into a flat shoe for the flight, Virgin Atlantic stopped requiring heels at all. Meanwhile, Delta Airlines, which owns 49% of Virgin Atlantic, requires at least a half-inch heel.
Part of the uniform also includes optional new badges that display a crew member’s preferred pronouns. Customers are also welcome to sport badges of their own, available at the check-in desk. Those customers from the U.S., Pakistan, and India who have gender-neutral markers on their passports will also begin to have that code reflected on their boarding passes, as “travellers must travel on the codes that match their passport,” according to Virgin Atlantic.
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As the new policy rolls out, the company will also provide mandatory inclusivity training for all of its employees, including its partners in tourism and hotels.
