Short skirts and high-heeled shoes for the female employees of Ukraine’s largest low-cost airline, SkyUp Airlines, are now over.
– Can barely walk
The airline is changing its uniforms to a more modern variant, where the female flight attendants are allowed to work in trouser suits, Nike Air Max 720 sneakers and coats in Italian eco-leather.
The new uniforms will be in use as early as next month, according to BBC.
– Twelve hours on your feet, while flying from Kiev to Zanzibar and back. If you wear high heels, you can hardly walk afterwards, says pilot Daria Solomennaya (27) to the BBC.
Physical ailments
The change comes after the airline conducted a survey among its employees. It turned out that the female workers were tired of high heels, tight blouses and short skirts.
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The old uniform also presented physical challenges. Among other things, varicose veins and “spider veins” are known, frequent ailments.
– Many of my colleagues are regular clients of podiatrists: The toes and toenails are constantly damaged by high heels, says Solomennaya.
She also says that it has been very difficult to do her job in short pencil skirts. During an emergency, female pilots could risk having to climb over the seats while still wearing skirts.
NIKE AIR MAX: The high-heeled shoes are thrown aside, now the Nike Air Max 720 is the official footwear of the female employees of Ukrainian SkyUp. Photo: Instagram / @ skyup.aero
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Not first in the world
SkyUp is by no means the first airline to ease the appearance requirements that were previously employed as a standard in the industry.
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According to the BBC, Virgin Atlantic has removed the requirement for female pilots to wear make-up at work, while Japan Airlines has got rid of the high heels. Here, employees are free to choose between trousers or skirts.
Even at home in Norway, the old dress code has been eased. At Norwegian, female flight attendants are no longer allowed to wear make-up when they are on board, and they can choose to wear flat shoes if they wish.
The new Norwegian airline Flyr has also jumped on the bandwagon. There, cabin crew and pilots can choose between black shoes and white sneakers.
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Now the Ukrainian SkyUp rejects both high heels, tight blouses and short skirts for good. From November, Nike sneakers, loose orange jackets and trousers apply – with light blue silk scarves as accessories.
– The style is made for active, daring and sharp: Those who do not like superfluous bureaucracy, but who appreciate style. These are clothes for those who are open to new things, those who enjoy life and traveling, the airline writes in a statement, according to the website Kiwi.
FULL UNIT: This is what the complete, new work outfit looks like. For the time being, the male employees have to make do with their old uniforms. Photo: Instagram / @ skyup.aero
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Own make-up palette
The airline has also had a specially made-up make-up palette consisting of blue and orange, which is supposed to reflect the sky colors during sunrise and sunset.
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The female SkyUp employees will also have the opportunity to let their hair down, and no longer wear it in a traditional knot.
– A female flight attendant’s job is not so romantic. It’s difficult. We realized that our female pilots would not be seen as “sexualized and playful”, says SkyUp Airlines marketing manager Marianna Grigorash to the BBC.
The uniforms are designed in collaboration with the Ukrainian brand GUDU.
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