Qantas' 10 Uniforms Through History and There is a New One Coming
By Sharon Petersen Thu Jan 30, 2025
Qantas is redesigning its uniform for the first time in over a decade as part of its fleet renewal and Project Sunrise initiatives. The airline will involve its 17,500 uniformed employees in shaping the new look, emphasizing their role in the process.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the redesign marks a new era, aligning with the brand's ambitious future and reflecting its evolving global presence. The current uniform, designed by Martin Grant in 2013, will make way for the eleventh uniform in Qantas' 105-year history.
Australian designers will be invited to participate, with the new design set to debut in 2027 alongside Qantas' major fleet investments, including over 100 new aircraft on order.
Qantas uniforms have become an iconic symbol of Australian aviation, with the airline unveiling 10 designs throughout its history.
1948 - 1959
Qantas Empire Airways hires its first nine cabin crew, introducing a military-style uniform with a navy skirt and jacket for winter and a white cotton dress for summer. A navy forage cap is worn by crew over the right eye with both the summer and winter uniforms. In 1953, the original navy winter suit is altered, with the lapels removed and the military look softened.
1959-1964
Marking the arrival of the Boeing 707 jet, Qantas ushers in a jungle-green uniform with a shirtmaker dress, a collarless fitted jacket with gold buttons, and a forage hat. A bottle-green overcoat with a red lining is added for flights to New York and London, complete with black court shoes, a black handbag, and black leather gloves.
1964 - 1969
Qantas adopts an aqua wool uniform with a distinctive heart-shaped hat, designed by Leon Paule. A beige uniform was also created for crew who were responsible for assessing the in-flight service.
1969 - 1971
Designed by Leon Paule, Qantas cabin crew donned a burnt coral mini dress with a matching hat. The uniform also featured winter and summer overcoats along with a rectangular leather handbag.
1971 - 1974
Qantas welcomes the Boeing 747. Navy makes a comeback with a new uniform featuring a dress, jacket with gold buttons, and a tango red overcoat. The red-striped hat earns the nickname the Red Back Spider. White gloves and a black handbag complete the look, designed in Sydney by Madame Germaine Rocher.
1974 - 1985
In 1974, Emilio Pucci designed a floral polyester uniform for Qantas, embodying the flower-power look of the 1970s. This colourful, mix-and-match collection features Pucci’s signature prints on dresses, skirts, and jackets in shades of green and coral. This popular uniform is worn well into the 1980s
1985 -1993
CaptionYves Saint Laurent brings high fashion to the skies with a chic blue and terracotta suit, introducing trousers for female cabin crew for the first time. This marks the debut of the Flying Kangaroo print on shirts and skirts.
1994 - 2003
Australian designers George Gross and Harry Who take the helm, reintroducing the kangaroo print and bringing back navy in a big way. The uniform features a longer-line jacket, the option of trousers, and a choice of a plain blue or a print blouse for female crew.
2003 - 2014
Peter Morrissey brings his signature style to Qantas with a charcoal suit featuring the eyecatching Wirriyarra boomerang print. The uniform includes mix-and-match options to suit different work environments and climates. A colour refresh in 2008, coinciding with the arrival of the first Airbus A380, introduces a new dusk shade to the palette.
2014 - Present
Rolled out in 2014, acclaimed Australian designer Martin Grant creates an elegant uniform featuring navy suiting with ruby red and fuchsia pink garments. The collection, crafted from 15 different fabrics including Australian wool and cotton blends, includes a dress, tops, a structured suit, a trench overcoat, and a trilby hat made from recycled bottle tops. In 2016, Martin Grant overhauled the pilot uniform to also feature a navy suit.
