Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced plans to replace the uniforms worn by its cabin crew and onboard staff for the past decade. According to media reports, the recently privatised national carrier formally announced the decision through a post on its official Instagram account, signalling a fresh change in the airline’s presentation and staff appearance.
The existing uniforms have been in use for around 10 years. The move to introduce new designs is expected to give PIA’s cabin crew a more modern and refreshed look as the airline enters a new phase under private management. Further details about the new uniform designs, their rollout timeline and the designers involved have not yet been disclosed.
According to the post, in keeping with tradition, the time has come for a change. A new uniform, designed by some of Pakistan’s leading creative minds and fashion designers, will soon be unveiled. The new design will reflect a blend of Pakistan’s cultural heritage and modern innovation.
Look at PIA’s early cabin crew uniform
Since its inception, PIA’s staff uniforms have undergone several changes. According to the History of PIA website, the airline’s early uniform was jointly designed by renowned Pakistani designer Leila Shahzad and Chausie Fountainer, a French-American woman who served as a cabin crew trainer at PIA for five years. The uniform consisted of white trousers, a white dupatta, a green shirt with a white collar and cuffs, black shoes, a black handbag, and a distinctive green cap for female cabin crew. This uniform was used from 1956 to 1960.
In 1966, renowned French fashion designer Pierre Cardin designed a historic cap-and-hat uniform for PIA, which attracted international attention and created a sensation around the world. During the 1970s and 1980s, leading designers from Britain and Pakistan, including Sir James Morris and Abbasi Bano, introduced further innovations. In the 1990s, designers Shahnawaz and Bano Qureshi incorporated the traditional shalwar kameez while retaining the airline’s distinctive cultural colours.
The current uniform was introduced in 2016, following collaboration with renowned Pakistani fashion designers, including Sania Maskatiya, Naomi Ansari, and Tariq Amin. After nearly a decade, PIA has now decided to replace the uniform with a new design. Following its privatisation, PIA has been working to improve its operations, restore its former reputation, and strengthen public and investor confidence.