United Airlines employees start wearing fresh uniforms from today.

dailyblitz.de 1 day ago

CHICAGO- United Airlines (UA) has officially launched its new designer flight attendant uniforms on May 28, 2025.

After nearly eight years of delays, redesigns, and setbacks, the airline’s customer-facing staff are now transitioning into the updated attire from designers Tracy Reese and Brooks Brothers.

The rollout comes after extensive feedback from employees, multiple design iterations, and a global pandemic that halted progress for over three years.

According to PYOK, this marks the end of a long and turbulent uniform development process, unlike any other in recent aviation history.

United Airlines Uniform

The rollout of United Airlines’ (UA) new uniforms, designed by Tracy Reese and Brooks Brothers, represents a bold step toward modernizing the airline’s brand.

The project, initiated in 2017, faced significant hurdles, including controversial designs, employee pushback, and a global pandemic that stalled progress.

The final designs, worn by thousands of flight attendants starting May 28, 2025, reflect a balance of style, functionality, and employee feedback, moving away from earlier, polarizing concepts.

The initial designs, unveiled in 2018, drew inspiration from futuristic aesthetics, often compared to Star Trek.

However, leaked photos sparked criticism from flight attendants, who found the bold styles impractical and unappealing.

United responded by revising the designs multiple times, incorporating feedback to prioritize comfort and professionalism.

By May 2024, the airline finalized a practical yet stylish uniform, showcased in a new safety video, signaling confidence in the design’s readiness.

Delays in the Design

The path to the new uniforms was fraught with challenges. In 2018, United’s (UA) ambitious Star Trek-inspired designs were met with resistance, prompting a public unveiling of a reworked version in January 2019.

Employee feedback remained lukewarm, leading to further adjustments by March 2019.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 halted the project entirely, as travel restrictions grounded flights and shifted the airline’s focus to survival.

Work resumed in May 2023, with United unveiling another iteration of the uniform, incorporating significant changes based on wearer trials.

These trials, conducted rigorously through 2024, addressed fit issues and functionality concerns. Despite these efforts, some flight attendants reported ongoing fit problems, though United pressed forward with the May 28, 2025, rollout.

Crew members on multi-day trips or stationed at international hubs like London Heathrow (LHR) were permitted to transition later, ensuring operational continuity.

United Uniform Evolution

August 2017: United Airlines (UA) announces a new uniform project with Tracy Reese, Brooks Brothers, and Carhartt, alongside Tumi luggage for flight attendants.
May 2018: Leaked photos of Star Trek-inspired designs spark backlash from flight attendants.
January 2019: United publicly unveils revised designs, but employee feedback remains tepid.
March 2019: Further design changes were made following additional complaints.
March 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic pauses the uniform project as aviation faces unprecedented challenges.
May 2023: United resumes the project, releasing updated designs after a three-year hiatus.
May 2024: A new safety video features the finalized uniforms, signaling progress toward rollout.
April 2025: United sets May 28, 2025, as the official rollout date after extensive wearer trials.
May 28, 2025: Flight attendants at airports like Chicago O’Hare (ORD) begin wearing the new uniforms, with exceptions for those on multi-day trips.