Virgin Airlines has announced the easing of their tattoo policy for cabin crew ahead of a fresh recruitment drive.
In an industry that has long prioritised appearance with some still specifying weight and height, this decision marks a change.
The airline owned by British billionaire Richard Branson, had previously prohibited uniformed employees from displaying their tattoos.
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Before the policy change tattooed employees had to cover their ink with makeup, plasters or had to request a special long-sleeved shirt instead of the standard short-sleeved version.
“At Virgin Atlantic, we want everyone to be themselves and know that they belong,” Estelle Hollingsworth, chief people officer at Virgin Atlantic, said in a statement.
“Many people use tattoos to express their unique identities, and our customer-facing and uniformed colleagues should not be excluded from doing so if they choose.”
Many airlines still require cabin crew to cover their tattoos while on duty.
Last year, United Airlines updated its policy to allow flight attendants to have visible tattoos, as long as they are no bigger than the employee’s work badge.
Air New Zealand has been permitting its employees to display “non-offensive tattoos” while in uniform since 2019.
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