Anyone can wear a skirt in new Virgin uniform policy
‘This policy is not taking away from anyone, it’s just allowing everyone from the community to have a voice’
VIRGIN ATLANTIC is allowing male cabin crew and pilots to wear skirts and female staff to wear trousers, so they can “express their true identity” at work.
The airline owned by Sir Richard Branson is dropping rules that require its employees to wear “gendered uniform options” in a first for the UK aviation industry.
The changes will not be limited to Virgin Atlantic staff. In a signal that the days of passengers being referred to as “Mr” and “Mrs” are coming to an end on flights, the carrier has changed its ticketing system to allow gender-neutral markers.
Juha Jarvinen, Virgin Atlantic’s commercial chief, said the airline wanted staff “to embrace their individuality and be their true selves at work”.
He added: “At Virgin Atlantic, we believe that everyone can take on the world, no matter who they are.
“We want to allow our people to wear the uniform that best suits them and how they identify and ensure our customers are addressed by their preferred pronouns.”
Historically known for its strict standards on dress code, height and age requirements, and a ban on displaying tattoos, the airline industry is evolving to reflect changes in social norms.
The Sunday Telegraph revealed last year that British Airways had dropped “ladies and gentlemen” from its onboard announcements to celebrate the “diversity and inclusion” of its customers.
However, Virgin Atlantic has been on the vanguard of the reforms. In May, the long-haul carrier became the first major global airline to allow staff to display tattoos. The changes to the ticketing system will allow travellers that hold passports with gender-neutral gender markers to select “U” or “X” gender codes on their booking as well as the gender-neutral title, “Mx”.
The airline said it is rolling out a plan to amend communication preferences to ensure customers are addressed by their preferred pronouns across all “touch-points” in the airport and on flights.
Uniforms have been produced by Dame Vivienne Westwood, the fashion designer. Jaime Forsstroem, a cabin crew worker at Virgin Atlantic, said: “The gender identity policy is so important to me. As a non-binary person, it allows me to be myself at work and have the choice in what uniform I wear.”
Michelle Visage, a judge on Rupaul’s
Drag Race, said: “As the mother of a non-binary child, and as an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, these efforts by Virgin Atlantic to further inclusivity for its people are extremely important and personal to me.
“People feel empowered when they are wearing what best represents them, and this gender identity policy allows people to embrace who they are and bring their full selves to work.”
Tyreece Nye, a non-binary Tiktok celebrity, was involved in the campaign to promote Virgin Atlantic’s change in uniform policy. Nye said: “This policy allows everyone to have a seat at the table.
“It’s not taking away from anyone, it’s just allowing everyone from the community to have a voice.”