Qantas’s 2,500 pilots are getting a makeover.
The airline said on Thursday Martin Grant has been tasked with updating the current single breasted black jacket and trousers designed by Peter Morrissey in 2003.
“The current uniform has served us well but after wearing the same thing every day for more than 10 years we’re ready for a change,” Qantas chief pilot Captain Richard Tobiano said in a statement.
“Given we spend up to 16 hours at a time on an aircraft, there’s a big focus on comfort and durability as well as reflecting our professionalism.”
The new pilot uniforms were expected to be released in 2016.
Grant, who designed Qantas’s current cabin crew and ground staff uniforms, said based on some early feedback from pilots he would focus on retaining the uniform’s traditional image but give it a modern makeover to be more elegant and more wearable.
“The female pilots are also hoping for a more feminine line so I will have that front of mind when I begin the design stage,” Grant said.
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said it was “important that our crew feel proud to wear the Qantas uniform around the world, every day”.
