Qantas rolls out new uniform made famous by Miranda Kerr, after announcing 1000 job losses
THE week after Qantas announced 1000 job losses in a bid to cut $2 billion, its controversial new uniforms are being rolled out.
ABOUT 12,000 Qantas employees will turn up at work in the flag carrier's controversial new uniform this week.
The uniforms attracted widespread criticism from disgruntled staff when they were first unveiled, with complaints the outfits were uncomfortable, unflattering, impractical and "too sexy".
Gallery: 90 years of flight attendant fashion
But international and domestic cabin crew, ground staff and freight employees will sport the new-look from Thursday, following several months of trials and consultations with Qantas and tailors.
Supermodel Miranda Kerr made headlines when she showed off the new uniform by Paris-based Australian designer Martin Grant down a runway at its launch in April.
The roll-out comes the week after Qantas announced it is planning to cut 1000 jobs as it tries to find $2 billion in savings over the next three years, to combat a before-tax loss of $300 million for the first half of the 2013-14 financial year.
This week, the airline released a series of new videos and a new TV ad campaign spruiking their staff's new look - and attitude.
"Some of our customers are asking on board what changes have happened to the training program, because they're actually noticing a real difference in the attitude of the crew and the way that the crew and the ground staff are interacting," Sharon Ashcroft, a customer service supervisor, says in one video.
Ms Ashcroft said work had gone into making the uniforms practical and stylish.
"I was part of the panel that helped to develop the new uniform. I've worn it for weeks as part of the trials, and the feedback from other staff as well as customers has been really positive."
However, last month, several staff spoke out about their concerns about the new uniform.
"The uniform looks fantastic on Miranda Kerr but unfortunately we don't all look like her," one attendant told The Daily Telegraph.
"The uniforms are really tight and they are simply not practical for the very physical job we have to do," said another.
But a Qantas spokeswoman said the feedback from staff on the new uniform had been positive.
"There are bound to be some adjustments needed as we roll out multiple pieces to 12,000 people, but it's been going very smoothly and there's a lot of excitement," she said in a statement.
- With staff writers
Qantas flight attendant taken to hospital
An “unusual smell” forced a Qantas flight to turn back to Sydney, with a crew member taken to hospital following the incident.
Albo’s last-ditch plea to Aussies in Lebanon
Anthony Albanese is making another plea to Australians in Lebanon to get out now after a major development in unrest in the country.
Major announcement for Virgin Australia
One of the major global airlines is making a splash in the beleaguered Australian market, in what would be a major expansion for the Aussie airline.