Japan Airlines Unites Akasa Air, SAS, Emirates, AirAsia, and Qantas in the Ultimate Uniform Overhaul of This Year: A New Era to Priorities Comfort and Style

Published on November 19, 2025

Japan Airlines unites with Akasa Air, SAS, Emirates, AirAsia, and Qantas in the ultimate uniform overhaul of this year. This major change marks the beginning of a new era for the airline industry, where comfort and style take center stage. By joining forces, these leading airlines are setting a bold example of how uniforms can be redesigned to better meet the needs of their staff while maintaining a sleek, professional look. The shift prioritizes employee well-being, ensuring that comfort is no longer compromised for style. With this overhaul, airlines are now focusing on practicality, sustainability, and performance, allowing their staff to feel as good as they look. This move is a reflection of the industry’s growing recognition of the importance of supportive workwear, showing how a thoughtful uniform design can improve both productivity and morale. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in redefining uniform standards across aviation.

Akasa Air’s Revamped Ground Services Uniforms

Akasa Air, a rising force in India’s aviation sector, has introduced revamped uniforms for its ground services team. Designed with both comfort and a unified identity in mind, the new uniforms reflect the airline’s commitment to providing functional and practical attire for its staff. The airline’s focus on employee comfort ensures that the uniforms cater to the demands of ground operations, where long hours and physical tasks are a part of the job. The revamped uniforms align with Akasa Air’s growing presence and its aim to offer a consistent, modern look across its operations. By focusing on comfort and practical design, Akasa Air strengthens its brand identity and improves the working conditions for its team on the ground.

SAS Scandinavian Airlines: Heritage Meets Innovation

In Scandinavia, SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has introduced a new crew uniform design for 2025. With a staff of approximately 9,000, SAS has adopted a fresh, modern approach that blends Scandinavian heritage with innovative design elements. The new uniforms are not only stylish but also focused on providing maximum comfort for long-haul flights and extended ground operations. The uniforms reflect a careful balance between tradition and modernity, incorporating fabrics and designs that ensure crew members look professional while feeling comfortable during their shifts. By introducing these new uniforms, SAS aims to enhance its airline image while ensuring its staff is well-equipped to handle the rigors of aviation service.

Emirates: Durability and Timeless Elegance

Emirates, one of the most prestigious airlines globally, has updated its cabin crew uniform to focus on durability and timeless elegance. In 2025, the airline released details of its evolving uniform design, which now emphasizes practicality alongside its signature sophisticated style. The uniform revisions reflect the airline’s dedication to providing crew members with uniforms that not only look impeccable but also stand the test of time and offer enhanced comfort. Whether working long shifts on the ground or during high-pressure flight operations, the Emirates uniform ensures that the airline’s team is both comfortable and prepared for the demands of their roles. The design maintains the airline’s luxurious image while aligning with the comfort needs of its hardworking staff.

AirAsia: Sustainability Meets Comfort

AirAsia, known for its low-cost approach, has embraced sustainability in its uniform changes. Unveiled at the KL Fashion Week in August 2025, the airline introduced an enhanced cabin crew uniform made from recycled materials. The new uniform focuses on improving both comfort and fit, ensuring that staff are not only representing the airline but also contributing to a more sustainable future in aviation. By using eco-friendly materials, AirAsia is setting a standard in the industry, combining style with sustainability. The revamped uniform helps address the need for both comfort and environmental consciousness, making it a perfect fit for a modern airline looking to balance operational needs with a commitment to the planet.

Qantas Airways: Major Redesign in 2025

Qantas Airways, Australia’s flagship carrier, has announced a significant uniform redesign planned for 2027. However, the decision to revamp its uniforms was made in 2025, with a new designer, Rebecca Vallance, appointed to lead the overhaul. The new uniforms will reflect a fresh approach to aviation workwear, blending comfort, practicality, and high fashion to meet the demands of modern airline staff. This long-awaited redesign aims to create uniforms that align with Qantas’ evolving image and operational needs. The focus will be on creating versatile and stylish attire that is both functional and professional, ensuring staff feel confident and comfortable in their uniforms. Although the redesign won’t be rolled out until 2027, the groundwork for a more modern and sustainable uniform policy has already been set.

Japan Airlines (JAL): A Practical Approach to Comfort and Mobility

Japan Airlines (JAL) has made a bold and progressive step in 2025 by eliminating the requirement for female employees to wear heels. This uniform policy update applies across six airlines under the JAL Group, including JAL, J-AIR, Japan Air Commuter (JAC), Hokkaido Air System (HAC), Japan Transocean Air (JTA), and Ryukyu Air Commuter (RAC). The change, which affects approximately 14,000 staff members across 56 domestic and 40 international airports, allows cabin crew and airport service teams to wear black sneakers instead of the previously required black leather shoes, heels, or pumps.

The decision to allow sneakers is a practical response to the physical demands of airline staff, who spend long hours on their feet and engage in high-mobility tasks. JAL emphasized that the updated policy is intended to reduce fatigue and physical strain while enhancing service consistency. This change is part of a broader effort to modernize the airline’s uniform policy and improve employee well-being. By removing the requirement for heels, JAL has joined a growing global movement in the aviation industry to eliminate gendered uniform restrictions and address the physical strain they impose on employees.

A Broader Trend in Airline Uniforms

The uniform changes across these airlines reflect a larger trend in the aviation industry to prioritize the comfort, mobility, and well-being of airline staff. Airlines are increasingly focusing on uniforms that not only look professional but also support the physical demands of long shifts, particularly for staff involved in high-mobility roles. This shift represents a broader move toward modernizing staff attire to enhance performance, improve operational efficiency, and promote employee satisfaction. By embracing comfort and functionality, airlines like Akasa Air, SAS, Emirates, AirAsia, Qantas, and Japan Airlines are leading the way in uniform innovation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Japan Airlines and its partners, Akasa Air, SAS, Emirates, AirAsia, and Qantas, have set a groundbreaking example with the ultimate uniform overhaul of this year. This collaborative effort highlights a significant shift towards prioritizing both comfort and style in the airline industry. By focusing on employee well-being, these airlines are not only enhancing the look and functionality of their uniforms but also fostering a healthier, more efficient work environment. This initiative signals the start of a new era in aviation, where thoughtful, sustainable uniform design contributes to the overall success of both employees and the airlines they represent. As these industry leaders continue to innovate, their commitment to redefining uniform standards will undoubtedly inspire further advancements across the aviation sector. The ultimate uniform overhaul marks a positive and impactful change that will benefit both the workforce and the passengers they serve.