10-05-2022
Virgin Atlantic announced that it eliminated the categorization of uniforms by gender. With this decision, staff may select any Virgin Atlantic uniform they wish, irrespective of gender. Before this decision, the airline offered uniform categories based on male and female genders. The company said, "The policy, effective today, champions the individuality of Virgin Atlantic's people by enabling them to wear the clothing that expresses how they identify or present themselves." The actual uniforms offered by the company have not changed. On its website, the company also states, "At Virgin Atlantic, we don't just accept difference – we celebrate, support, and thrive on it. We know difference is a strength, enabling us to be a force for good for our employees, customers, and communities.
Going forward, staff and travelers may also choose to wear pronoun badges, and travelers may select gender-neutral titles when purchasing tickets. Passenger titles must match any identification documents carried by the traveler, such as passports or driver's licenses. The airline will also mandate inclusivity training for all of its staff, tourism partners, and hotels. The company believes allowing people to embrace their individuality at work will cement Virgin Airlines as the "most inclusive airline in the skies." In 2019, the company stopped requiring makeup for cabin crews and gave all employees the option to wear pants. The airline recently removed bans against any visible arm and leg tattoos for the cabin crew. However, flight attendants and the cabin crew still may not have neck, head, and facial tattoos. They also may not have tattoos that include swear words, reference nudity, violence, and culturally offensive symbols.