New American Airlines uniforms to debut soon. The old ones had ‘so many issues’
American Airlines employees will get a new look starting Monday, including a number of employees at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
American will debut its new uniforms, marking the end of a nearly three-year search for a new look.
The airline’s last uniform, supplied by Twin Hill, debuted in the fall of 2016 and has been in use ever since, airline spokeswoman Lindsey Martin told the Observer.
Employees had complained that the last uniform gave some people allergic reactions, headaches and rashes, the Observer reported in 2017.
At the time, Charlotte-based American Airlines flight attendant Wendy D’Olivio told the Observer she wouldn’t even keep the uniform in the house. She said she had trouble breathing while washing and handling the uniform.
“It felt like glass shards in my lungs,” she told the Observer in 2017. “It was awful.”
Flight attendant Brian Lindsay who worked out of Charlotte in 2017, told the Observer the old uniforms had “so many issues.”
Martin said employees and union representatives were involved in choosing the new uniforms, supplied by Lands’ End.
“This program is not only built for them, but built by them,” she said. “They’ve been involved all the way.”
Lori Bassani, national president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, said union representatives visited manufacturing facilities ahead of the uniform selection and worked with American Airlines “every step of the way.”
The union represents more than 27,000 U.S.-based flight attendants at American Airlines.
“This is a big day for us,” Bassani said. “And we’re really looking forward to being in a healthy uniform.”
Choose your uniform
For the first time in American’s history, employees will have a choice between two fabrics for their uniforms, a wool blend and a synthetic blend, Martin said.
More than 50,000 employees throughout the company will make the switch, Martin said.
American wasn’t the only airline where uniforms became an issue. Lands’ End was sued this year by Delta employees, who said Lands’ End uniforms made them sick, CNN reported in January.
But Martin said every part of the American uniform, including buttons, zippers and thread, are tested for hazardous chemicals and certified by textile testing company OEKO-TEX.
This story was originally published February 28, 2020 at 1:23 PM.
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