British airline Virgin Atlantic has changed its uniform policy to be more inclusive.
Crew, pilots and ground crews will no longer be required to wear uniforms for men and women. Instead, they can choose the outfit that represents their gender identity.
“At Virgin Atlantic, we believe that everyone can eat the world, no matter who they are,” Juha Jarvinen, the airline’s chief commercial officer, said in a statement.
paradigm shift
The airline seeks to be more relaxed in terms of image rules. In 2019, Virgin Atlantic even removed the mandatory makeup requirement for female staff and opened the door for women to wear pants and flats during their working hours.
Also, in early 2022, it was the first UK airline to allow visible tattoos on its staff.
But that is not all. To make the policies more flexible, optional pronoun badges were included for staff, accompanied by inclusion training. It will also launch “inclusion learning initiatives” for hotels and other destination partners, including the Caribbean, this the company says is “to ensure our customers feel welcome despite barriers to LGBTQ+ equality.”
Not only the staff will benefit, but passengers can now choose to use pre-name badges. The codes are ‘U’ or ‘X’ to identify gender neutral in airline reservations, along with the title ‘Mx’, for those with gender neutral passports. This is only available in India, Pakistan and the United States, at the moment.
“The ‘Be Yourself’ campaign means absolutely everything to me: I get to be myself, a non-binary person,” cabin crew member Jamie Forsstrom said in a video. “I have the option of choosing a uniform, which is a huge thing.”
Why were the uniform rules changed at Virgin Atlantic?
The company’s announcement states: “The policy upholds the individuality of Virgin Atlantic people by allowing them to wear clothing that expresses how they identify or present themselves.”
In accordance with euronewsthe change is supported by extensive research showing that allowing staff to embrace their individuality at work creates a better experience for both employees and customers.
British designer Vivienne Westwood was commissioned to create the outfit for the airline in 2014, she reinvented Arabella Pollen’s original idea from 1984. It consists of a jacket and red pencil skirt or a burgundy suit. Those who are members of the LGBTQ+ community will now be able to choose the option that best reflects their identity.
Virgin Atlantic hopes the move will cement it as “the most inclusive airline in the skies.” The campaign is presented by Michelle Visage, a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race, in addition to several activists from the LGBTQ+ community, which is accompanied by the #SeeTheWorldDifferently.
The also singer said on Instagram “As the mother of a non-binary child and as an ally of the LGBTQ+ community, I am proud to participate in this new announcement from Virgin Atlantic. Let’s change the world: one fabulous pressed uniform at a time! The world is our runway!”
It is not the only inclusive airline
Virgin is not alone in taking a step forward on gender identity. the icelandic airline Play He comments that their uniforms are not gender specific. There are no rules when it comes to makeup, tattoos, or even nail polish. Secondly, WestJet of Canada, said it updated its policy on uniforms “to be unfettered from gender norms” from 2017.
Alaska Airlines commented in March of this year that it was developing gender-neutral uniforms. He also explained that all employees will be able to wear nail polish, makeup, two earrings in each ear and even a nose piercing.
However, the first airline to change the paradigm was the Ukrainian sky up airlinesby changing from skirts and heels to pants and sneakers for flight attendants.
Editorial Team The editorial team of EMPRENDEDOR.com, which for more than 27 years has worked to promote entrepreneurship.