A History Of The British Airways Staff Uniform

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British Airways staff wearing historic uniforms from BA and its predecessor airlines (Image Credit: British Airways)

This article was published in 2019 in a series on the history of British Airways and its predecessors Imperial Airways, BOAC and BEA. You can browse all 100 stories in number order, by theme or by decade.

Many have been updated since first published.

It’s only when you fly on an airline with sloppy uniform standards (*cough* American Airlines) do you appreciate its importance.

Apart from an expression of the airline’s image, it also has an important safety function in making members of airline staff instantly recognisable.

Designing an airline uniform is a huge logistical exercise. Uniforms must be designed for many different roles from pilots, cabin crew to ground staff. They must be capable of being worn in different climates and meet a whole host of practical and safety considerations.

Since the 1960s BA and its predecessor airlines have worked with major designers on their uniforms.

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BOAC Uniforms

In the 1960s, BOAC cabin crew used to wear different uniforms according to the routes they flew on.

Here is a paper dress for Caribbean routes modelled by BOAC cabin crew Pat Bleasdale on its launch in 1966. These were designed to be worn only once. They did not last long and were withdrawn after less than a year.

BOAC Paper Dress Uniform, Caribbean (Image Credit: British Airways)

BOAC stewardesses in Japan operating flights between the country and the UK from 1955 to 1974 wore kimonos. Each stewardess was given an allowance to buy a kimono of their choice from their local shop. The only requirement was that it must be of a traditional pattern and design.

A photograph of the First Class cabin of a British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) flight between Japan and London with a BOAC Stewardess wearing a Japanese Kimono serving passengers. — The First Class cabin of a British Overseas Airways Corporation between Japan and London, with a BOAC Stewardess wearing a Japanese Kimono. Exact date unknown. (Image Credit: British Airways)

BEA Sylvia Ayton Uniform

Here is a uniform designed by a then unknown designer Sylvia Ayton in relatively restrained colours and style for BEA in the early 1960s.

BEA Hardy Amies Uniform

During the 1960s, BEA approached Hardy Amies, official dressmaker for Her Majesty The Queen, to design a new uniform which had a much bolder, colourful and flamboyant style.

Successive designs by Hardy Amies survived the merger of BEA and BOAC and were retained by BA until the late 1970s.

BEA Hardy Amies Uniform (Image Credit: British Airways)

BA Baccarat Weatherall Uniform

The first official BA uniform was designed by the studio Baccarat Weatherall.

The main focus of the designs were on uniforms for female staff with the promise “to make British Airways girls the most elegant and attractive in the airline business”.

British Airways Boeing 747, Negus Livery, Dublin — British Airways Boeing 747, Negus Livery (Image Credit: British Airways)

BA Roland Klein Uniform

It wasn’t until 1985 that an entirely new uniform was designed for all BA staff.

The French designer Roland Klein designed a uniform with the aim of conveying an informal, approachable style, fitting with the “Putting People First” approach of the time.

British Airways Staff in Roland Klein uniforms, London Heathrow (Image Credit: British Airways)

BA Paul Costelleo Uniform

The Paul Costelleo uniform was introduced in 1992 with the aim of introducing a more corporate image for the airline.

British Airways Paul Costelleo Uniform (Image Credit: British Airways)

BA Julien Macdonald Uniform

BA’s current uniform designed by Julien Macdonald was introduced in 2004.

Julien wanted to go back to the “golden age” of travel and introduce a sense of glamour to the BA uniform with a less “buttoned up” style than previous uniforms. When worn well, it is extremely effective.

British Airways Julien Macdonald Uniform (Image Credit: British Airways)

BA is currently working with the designer Ozwald Boateng OBE to design a new uniform which is expected to be introduced next year.