Air New Zealand flight attendant outfits throughout the years
Air New Zealand unveiled a new cabin crew uniform in 2025.
The airline tipped NZ-born fashion designer Emilia Wickstead – a favourite of the Princess of Wales – to design new uniforms for all their flight staff.
Celebrating the culture, creativity and unique spirit of Aotearoa, the new look will be worn by 6,000 Air New Zealanders worldwide and marks a bold new era for the airline.
The uniform also introduces the Ie Faitaga - a cultural garment being trialled by Pasifika team members.
Other key pieces include the Fine Print - Dress featuring a symbolic kōwhai print.
And new designs for pilots featuring bold pinstripes and Kiwi feather linings.
Air New Zealand cabin crew outfits have undergone a number of dramatic transformations over the years, to keep up with shifting fashion trends.
Read on to take a look at some of their most iconic offerings.
Unveiled in 2011, the most recent uniform was a distinctive purple print, featuring the airline's logo and a silver fern.
Designed by celebrated New Zealand fashion designer Trelise Cooper, the outfits are certainly attention-grabbing.
However, some female staff members weren't fans of the outfit. One anonymous flight attendant said the colour would show up spilled food and drinks.
"I haven't worn that colour since I was five," she said.
In the 1950s, Air New Zealand flight attendants wore white, nurse-style outfits with black gloves, hats, and shoes.
During winter, the flight attendants wore navy suits designed by David Jones.
The gold-buttoned suit was accompanied with leather gloves, a black tie, and a black hat.
The summer uniform featured a white short-sleeved dress belted at the waist.
Flight attendants could wear a "full wings" badge on their caps – on other airlines, these were reserved for pilots only.
The 1960s saw the airline collaborate with the House of Dior for a uniform with a significantly shorter hemline than the previous decade.
While it certainly looked stylish – topped off with a Jackie Kennedy-style hat – it can't have been the most comfortable outfit for cabin crew.
