While Air France and British Airways have kept flight attendant uniforms relatively stable for nearly two decades, the Italian flag carrier has gone through a trio of changes in just six years. Maybe the uniform was never the problem in the first place? That said, the new ITA Airways uniforms do look nice.
ITA Airways Debuts New Uniforms For Flight Attendants
ITA Airways, formerly Alitalia, has unveiled new uniforms designed by Brunello Cucinelli. The following teaser video was released today:
“È l’Italia delle piccole cose che fanno la differenza, delle cose fatte bene e che fanno bene al cuore”. L’inimitabile cifra stilistica di @Cucinelli firma le nuove divise del personale di bordo, facendo sognare con l’inconfondibile stile italiano.#ITAAirways pic.twitter.com/aX4D2QYcXV
— ITA Airways Risponde (@ITAAirways) May 31, 2022
You might recall that Alitalia unveiled new uniforms in 2016, again in 2018, and now for a third time in 2022.
2016 uniforms:
2018 uniforms:
2022 uniforms:
I still love the 2016 uniforms (the 2018 uniforms look like Christmas wrapping paper), though I’m really not sure uniforms matter…especially when Italian taxpayers are footing the bill (ITA Airways is currently fully state-owned).
And I guess that gets to the heart of the matter. Sure, ITA Airways is trying to reinvent itself and I’m quite excited to fly ITA (hopefully sooner rather than later). The carrier has taken delivery of three Airbus A350-900 aircraft with a beautiful new business class cabin designed by Walter De Silva. There are new menus onboard and ITA is re-growing its network in the Americas with new service to Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, and Sao Paulo. ITA Airways will also take delivery of 10 new Airbus A330neo jets.
So I get that uniforms are part of the package. But at the same time, they do not appear all that different than the 2018 uniforms and they must cost money, even if they will be gradually phased in.
CONCLUSION
ITA Airways has debuted new uniforms for its cabin staff, part of the carrier’s re-launch as it tries to distinguish itself from the ghost of Alitalia. Even so, I cannot help but to wonder whether new uniforms at a time like this perpetuates the doomed Alitalia model of spend money first, ask questions later.
What are your thoughts on the new ITA Airways uniforms?
Do the uniforms come with a matching sleepwear set for the pilots to take naps in?
LOL
Sorry to see that you agree. I think these kind of sarcasm and comments shouldn’t be allowed on an aviation blog.
I like the FAQ and all of your website!
That’s a good one.
Thanks. I try not to take myself too seriously! 🙂
This is just a tasteless and useless comment.
Italians are very proud of their fashion design skills. Look at the major and most well recognized fashion brands and they are Italians. Thus, that might trigger the change as often as you see.
I think they’re okay. Not great or horrible. The white over navy is nice, but the new “Jim Tressel” sleeveless gray sweater isn’t a look I like, looks too casual and bland. Also, the double breasted brass button jackets are the realm of pilots and cruise ship personnel, thus I prefer the style of the previous generation’s jacket.
One problem that I see is that there doesn’t seem to be a hot weather version of the uniform.
If I were ITA management, I would see if it is cheaper to use an existing uniform. Perhaps Frontier Airlines or Westjet (Canada) or their supplier could agree to the use of their design with a different colored scarf? Frontier Airlines and Westjet doesn’t compete with ITA.
The 2016 uniforms are super tasteful. As for the new ones, if they don’t even look good on the models, they’re unlikely to look good on actual humans.
The new uniforms and menus will be introduced on the inaugural flight to Buenos Aires on June 2nd, which is also the Festa Della Repubblica Italiana.
The phrase “re-arranging the deckchairs on the Titanic” comes to mind here.
I also recall flying with Avianca Brasil in its dying days when the crew changed uniforms to provide their catering service – which consisted of a glass of fizzy or still water!
Looking at the history of Alitalia and its uniforms, between 1998 and 2016, they used always and only the Mondrian ones. Back in 2016 Etihad decided to change the uniforms to conform them to the equity partners standards. As these uniforms were extremely warm during the summer and not very practical to use, even if they were looking great, they had to be changed. In 2018 the new uniforms have arrived but the stylist didn’t ask any monetary compensation for them.
Finally we come to ITA, the old uniforms simply couldn’t be retained, not only because they had Alitalia logos everywhere, but also, as I heard, for legal reasons. I think that the new ITA uniforms look good, indeed we have to wait and see them live, as well.