Qantas’ attempt to extend its no-beard policy to regional pilots raises hackles

QantasLink pilots are prickly over a proposed extension of the airline’s no-beard policy, prompting some to down their razors in protest. But the airline insists it’s a matter of safety.

Qantas has ruffled the feathers of its male pilot cohort by proposing to extend its mainline operations ban on beards to its regional airline.

It’s understood the move came about after some short and long-haul pilots, who wanted to grow beards, pointed out the unfairness of the current policy which allows their QantasLink counterparts to sport facial hair.

In response, Qantas commissioned an independent review by aeromedical consultancy QinetiQ, which prompted the decision to order clean-shaven pilots across the board.

According to an email sent to pilots, seen by The Australian, Qantas insisted its move was about safety rather than grooming.

“(QinetiQ’s) review of existing global evidence concluded that facial hair can compromise the seal of emergency oxygen masks, reducing their effectiveness when they’re needed most,” the email said.

“Their recommendation is clear: flight crew who are required to use close-fitting, quick-don oxygen masks should not have facial hair that interferes with the mask seal.”

It went on to say the finding “underpinned the proposed change which would bring QantasLink branded airlines into line with existing requirements”.

“While the risk scenarios that lead to the requirement to use the oxygen marks are unlikely, the potential impact is high,” said the email, which was accompanied by a detailed Q&A document.

“That’s why we’ve taken the time to thoroughly assess the evidence and are now entering a formal consultation phase.”

More than 90 per cent of Qantas pilots are male.

Qantas pilots have long adhered to a no-beard policy, however those at QantasLink are permitted to have facial hair. Picture: Liam Kidston

Pilots were encouraged to fill out a form in response to the change before August 12, and were advised that they could seek confidential counselling support if needed.

The proposed extension has prompted something of a protest among QantasLink pilots, several of whom have ditched their razors in response.

One pilot who spoke to The Australian on the condition of anonymity said the QinetiQ findings were at odds with a comprehensive 2024 study by the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida.

That study concluded there was “no evidence facial hair caused mask leaks, hypoxia or chemicals to affect pilot performance”.

Qantas has never allowed its mainline pilots to sport beards, however the rule was changed for male cabin crew a few years ago as long as any facial hair was well maintained and trimmed.

International civil aviation safety regulations do not mandate that pilots have to be clean shaven, leaving it up to airlines to determine their own policy.

Virgin Australia does permit tidy beards among its flight crew, as do Emirates and Etihad, but US carriers typically ban facial hair on their pilots.

Firefighters are one of the few other professions that must adhere to a beard ban, because of the risk of interference in the seal of self-contained breathing apparatus.

In a move that did not go unnoticed at Qantas, the Royal Australian Air Force lifted its ban on facial hair in late 2022 as long as beards were kept neat with a minimum bulk of 4mm and a maximum of 5cm.

At the time, Air Force chief Rob Chipman said the change was made as the RAAF worked to “evolve and modernise”.

Originally published as Qantas’ attempt to extend its no-beard policy to regional pilots raises hackles