Qantas cabin crew will be able to ditch high heels, grow their hair long and opt to wear make-up regardless of their gender as the national carrier relaxes strict uniform rules that one union has branded as ridiculous.
The "style and grooming" overhaul comes in response to long-held frustrations by staff, modernising workplaces and evolving customer expectations, the airline said.
Qantas uniforms have not changed, but designated “male” and “female” uniform determinations have been scrapped and grooming requirements overhauled.
Female cabin crew previously expected to wear high heels on long-haul flights had been asking to wear more comfortable and practical flat shoes, a Qantas spokeswoman said.
Similarly, some male cabin crew expressed a desire to wear concealer and foundation.
"These changes will make wearing our uniform more comfortable and practical," the spokeswoman said.
Included in the changes for all staff is the option to wear flat shoes with uniforms, as well as wearing long hair in a low ponytail or bun.
All employees can now wear the same jewellery, including watches and diamond earrings.
Employees will also have the choice of whether to wear make-up or not, although tattoos still need to be concealed.
Hosiery will be required to be worn with a dress or skirt.
"The update doesn't change our uniform but modernises the way employees wear it in line with employee feedback and evolving customer expectations," the Qantas spokeswoman said.
The Flight Attendants Association of Australia said it welcomed any relaxing of staff grooming guidelines in an industry it described as "archaic".
National secretary Teri O'Toole was cautiously optimistic about the changes, but she said they would not be significant in practice.
"To say that men can now wear make-up is slightly misleading," she told AAP.
"Don't expect to see male cabin crew with a full face of make-up on a plane."
Ms O'Toole said it was her understanding that male employees would be able to wear clear nail polish, a clear lip gloss and a foundation but would not be able to wear mascara, eyeliner or coloured lipstick and nail polish.
She urged the airline to consider more flexible uniforms catered to crew who were expected to travel between different climates and weather conditions.
Australian Services Union Victoria secretary Imogen Sturni described the changes as a big win for workers and hopes they reflect a cultural change in management.
"Some of the dress code requirements were bordering on ridiculous," she said.
"It was time that uniform requirements moved into the 21st century."
The Australian Services Union wrote to Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce urging the airline to rethink its uniform policy and ease make-up and high heel requirements in March last year.
"While airline uniforms have come a long way since the days of miniskirts and towering heels, we think there’s still a long way to go," ASU assistant national secretary Emeline Gaske said at the time.
