Air NZ's new uniform: A look back through the years

Friday, 11 April 2025

Air New Zealand will soon enter a new era in its 85-year history with new uniforms.

The Emilia Wickstead-designed garments were unveiled to the public on Friday with inspiration from New Zealand featuring heavily in the design.

It will be worn by the airline’s customer-facing staff from 2026 after it is wear-tested on board.

It’s a highly scrutinised design. Some of the uniforms of old are looked back on in admiration, others with a look of perplexion.

Here is how the airline staff dressed over the decades.

Do you have images of the old uniforms, or other Air NZ memorabilia? Email us at travel@stuff.co.nz

The 1940s

Air New Zealand’s heritage dates back to April 1940, when it first launched as TEAL (Tasman Empire Airways Limited).

With World War II well underway by that point, it’s no wonder the uniforms were military in style. The flight attendants wore long, black, double-breasted jackets, ties, black leather gloves, a black leather handbag, knee-length skirts and a military-style hat.

The 1950s

The military style continued for most of the decade with a design by David Jones. The black uniform featured a single-breasted wool jacket with six gold buttons and a below-the-knee straight skirt.

Towards the end of the decade, the airline’s uniforms took on a more nurse’s look with female cabin crew wearing clean, white and clinical dresses and a black hat. The hemline showed a lot more leg than the more conservative previous outfit.

The 1960s

A revolutionary decade for fashion, the airline did the same and TEAL took on a new name, becoming Air New Zealand in 1965 and opened offices around the world.

With the international expansion, it was fitting that an international designer be called upon to create its uniforms. Yves Saint Laurent designed the garments when he was working at the House of Dior - a teal-coloured suit worn with a white blouse, leather gloves and hat. The impeccably tailored look was joined by a kaftan in 1969, leaning into the swinging 60s style.

They were made in turquoise, lilac, watermelon pink and strawberry pink and had embroidered hibiscus flowers on their sleeves.

The 1970s

International air travel and tourism were soaring in popularity by the 70s. In 1973, citizens of Australia and New Zealand were allowed to travel freely between the two countries without a passport.

That same year, the first uniform from a New Zealand designer, Vinka Lucas, was worn. It featured a yellow blouse with a Maori-inspired motif on the billowing sleeve worn under an A-line pinafore dress. Flight attendants could choose a short dress or a long one, navy or turquoise, and a cape with a hood in winter.

It was fastened with multiple buttons up the back which made it difficult to put on.

Also in the 70s was the uniform nicknamed ‘the lollipop’ or ‘the jellybean’ worn by New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC) crew. It was the national domestic airline of New Zealand until 1978 when it merged with the international airline, Air New Zealand. The brightly-coloured outfits were also worn with a helmet-shaped hat, knee-high white boots or black loafers.

In 1976, NAC brought in a red, white and blue ensemble. It was also the first time women could wear trousers. It was accompanied by a beret with a big red star on top. The dress of the uniform continued to be worn by all NAC and Air New Zealand attendants after the merger.

By then it was time to introduce a new uniform with ones designed by Nina Ricci. It consisted of a blue and teal geometric print in a long skirt and top or a pleated short skirt, long-sleeved shirt or short-sleeved. All the women's garments were designed to mix and match elegantly. The men wore a light blue tailored jacket with a koru embroidered on the pocket and light grey trousers.

The 1980s

New Zealanders were flying further afield. In 1982 the first Air New Zealand flight to London took place and it needed a uniform to reflect its global reach. In came the shoulder pads in garments designed by New Zealand designer Isabel Harris. From the mid 80s the uniform featured a subtle koru motif on the blouses and skirt and were paired with elegant tailored suiting in the airline’s synonymous teal and navy. Two silk scarves - one long and the other square, both featured navy blue, teal and white with a subtle koru motif.

Similar to female cabin crew, male flight attendants also wore a blue suit but with a koru, adorned on the chest pocket.

The 1990s

New Zealand fashion designer Barbara Lee helped the airline enter a new decade. The navy and teal combination included a bowler hat and a printed scarf. Women could choose between a fitted short skirt and or a long, flowing printed one with a white blouse and loose-fitting, masculine-style jacket. Male attendants’ uniforms were a jade or navy suit.

The 2000s

Several shades of grey and teal comprised the colour palette of the Zambesi-designed uniforms in 2006 which drew criticism for looking like the “Thunderbirds'.

The skirt was fully-lined merino wool with a fluted hemline or a dress could be worn with an open neck or sleeves rolled up. The shirt was long-sleeved with a Māori design on the front panel. A belted tunic was designed to be worn over trousers or skirts and came in either teal or schist.

The collection included a merino wrap for cabin crew to be worn over the tunic, merino top or dress and over the jacket for added warmth.

The 2010s

From the dull grey to vibrant purple-pink, Dame Trelise Cooper brought the colour with her uniforms in 2011. The dresses, skirts, ties and pocket handkerchiefs featured a bold koru design. Ground staff wear a green version, managers in blue.

One flight attendant told The Post at the time that the uniform resembled the look sported on Air New Zealand’s flight to Sydney's Mardi Gras festival. 'The flight attendants look like drag queens off the Air New Zealand 'pink' flight.'

A waistcoat with a checkerboard pattern featuring New Zealand motifs was called “the worst part of the 2011-era uniforms” by fashion editor Zoe Walker Awa.

The 2020s

New Zealand-born London-based designer Emila Wickstead has created a uniform of black, white and purple. The dress features a hand-drawn kōwhai print and the shirt is designed to be worn by any cabin crew or ground staff.

An ie faitaga, a more formal version of a lavalava, has been added to the uniform to be trialled by Pasifika team members.

A new waistcoat for male crew members either has a kākā feather print or a pepeha print. A trench coat with a purple pinstripe also makes up the collection.

New designs for pilots included a pinstriped suit with a kiwi feather print lining. The striking prints on the outfits are embellished with intricate details. All of the shirts have Matariki stars stitched onto the sleeves, while the managers have a huia feather.

The artist behind the prints Te Rangitu Netana, said at the launch event on Thursday night that they weren’t going to please everyone but he didn’t care about any negative comments.