Korean Air has unveiled new eco-friendly uniforms for its maintenance, aerospace, cargo and ground handling employees. Scheduled for rollout starting April 1, the renewed uniforms have been designed to cater to the diverse needs of the airline’s staff.
The new uniforms prioritize safety and functionality. Specialized fabrics mitigate risks of electrical accidents, and the new design allows for the insertion of knee pads for extra protection when needed. Summer uniforms feature mesh patches behind the knees for breathability, and reflective tape enhances visibility in dim environments. Uniforms ranging from t-shirts, vests, windbreakers to heavy jackets have been developed taking into consideration different tasks and seasons to allow employees to choose an attire suitable for specific environments.
Aligned with Korean Air’s sustainability efforts, the materials have been environmentally certified. The winter jacket is made from Sympatex textile, which is recognized for its thermal insulation, waterproof and windproof properties. The material has received both Bluesign and OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification, two of Europe’s leading environmental certification labels for textiles. The eco-friendly fabric can be either recycled or naturally decomposed without emitting any toxic substances into the ground.
The new uniforms mark the first uniform overhaul for maintenance, aerospace, cargo and ground handling teams in 38 years, since 1986. Employee feedback was critical in designing the new uniforms to ensure practicality. Functional elements such as pockets for various equipment have been added to meet the needs of the employees. The uniforms were developed according to the nature of the diverse tasks, and the airline held a trial fitting event at its headquarters in Seoul, the Busan Tech Center and Incheon Hangar over the course of four days from March 26.
This initiative follows successful safety footwear upgrades for staff navigating airports, hangars and cargo terminals in May 2023. Employees were able to choose from a variety of safety shoes and try them on before selecting their favorite pair.
