Turkish Airlines Rolls Out New Cabin Crew Uniforms

Turkish Airlines is rolling out brand new uniforms for its cabin crew, timed to debut at the same time as the opening of its newly built home-base Istanbul New Airport in October.

For the new outfits that come in a "deep red and anthracite grey palette," the national flag carrier teamed up with designer Ettore Bilotta, who also previously designed a similar look for Alitalia's flight attendants. The new designs are meant to reflect "classic elements of Turkish design and culture," and they "incorporate traditional patterns found in artisanal glassware, ceramics and calligraphy with contemporary textures and details."

Turkish cabin crew's new duds encompass head-to-toe elements, including hats, gloves, dresses, bags and other additional accessories. The retro-inspired ensembles were tested for practicality by flight crews on several long-haul flights in different climates, the airline said in a statement.

In addition to the new look for its cabin crew, the 85-year-old airline said it will also have the uniforms of its cabin, cockpit, onboard chefs, and ground services "streamlined under a single design approach to offer the passengers to live a holistic brand experience."

"When I started to design for Turkish Airlines, the first thing that inspired me was Istanbul," Bilotta said. "This city has been a melting pot for art and civilisation for centuries and has a rare richness as a common heritage of many cultures. I wanted to bring elements from traditional calligraphy and mosaics together with the new interpretations of Turkish motifs."

Turkish is revamping a lot this year. Not only are its cabin crew uniforms and home-base Istanbul airport getting a total relaunch, but the carrier announced earlier this week it would also equip its upcoming 787 Dreamliners and A350s with new, "high-privacy" business-class suites starting in 2019.

All images by Turkish Airlines.