Korean Air has launched its updated, environmentally conscious uniforms for employees in maintenance, aerospace, cargo, and ground handling roles. These new Uniform Korean Air designs are scheduled to be implemented starting April 1st and are crafted to suit the diverse workforce of the airline.
The central focus of the new uniforms is safety and practicality. The fabrics used are specifically chosen to reduce the risk of electrical incidents. Furthermore, the design incorporates the ability to insert knee pads, offering additional protection when needed. For the summer months, the uniforms include breathable mesh sections behind the knees to enhance comfort, while reflective tape is added to improve visibility in low-light conditions. A comprehensive range of uniform items, including T-shirts, vests, windbreakers, and heavy jackets, has been developed. This variety allows employees to select appropriate attire based on their specific tasks and the prevailing weather conditions, ensuring suitability for diverse work environments.
Demonstrating Korean Air’s commitment to sustainability, the materials used in the uniforms are environmentally certified. The winter jacket, for example, is constructed from Sympatex textile, a material known for its excellent thermal insulation, waterproof, and windproof qualities. This material has been awarded both Bluesign and OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certifications, which are leading European environmental standards for textiles. Notably, this eco-friendly fabric is designed to be either recycled or to decompose naturally without releasing harmful substances into the environment.
These new uniform korean air options represent the first major uniform change for the maintenance, aerospace, cargo, and ground handling teams in 38 years, with the previous design dating back to 1986. Employee input was crucial throughout the design process to ensure the uniforms’ practicality. Functional features such as specialized pockets for equipment have been incorporated to meet the specific needs of the staff. To ensure the uniforms are well-suited to the varied nature of the employees’ tasks, Korean Air conducted trial fittings at its Seoul headquarters, Busan Tech Center, and Incheon Hangar over four days starting from March 26th.
This initiative follows Korean Air’s successful rollout of improved safety footwear for staff working across airports, hangars, and cargo terminals in May 2023. At that time, employees were given the opportunity to choose from a selection of safety shoes and try them on to ensure a comfortable and preferred fit.
