With heritage woven into every seam, the Emirates cabin crew uniform has become one of the most recognisable symbols in global aviation. Since the airline’s founding in 1985, the look has evolved with precision and purpose, reflecting the glamour of air travel and the spirit of the world’s largest international airline. Four decades on, the uniform remains an enduring emblem of sophistication and the “Fly Better” promise.

Throughout its evolution, Emirates has stayed true to its signature colour palette of beige and red — a combination that has come to represent timeless elegance and understated luxury. Crafted from nano-coated fabrics designed to resist stains and creases, the uniform is engineered for long-haul performance, ensuring crew members maintain a flawless appearance from take-off to landing.

Rejecting the fast fashion cycle, Emirates has consistently favoured quality, durability, and craftsmanship over fleeting trends, allowing the uniform to remain as classic as the airline itself.

When Emirates first launched in 1985, just 80 cabin crew wore the original design — a warm beige jacket with red piping, paired with a cream blouse, a red hat, and a white chiffon scarf. The scarf featured seven pleats, symbolising the seven Emirates of the UAE, and the overall look subtly echoed the golden hues of the desert sands. Together, these elements captured both cultural pride and the emerging identity of Dubai as a global hub of sophistication.

In the years that followed, the uniform underwent tasteful refinements. By 1987, the design featured a double-breasted beige jacket with gold buttons and a longer skirt for a more refined silhouette. A lighter “Summer Safari” dress was introduced for warmer climates, balancing practicality with elegance. Female crew in First Class added a distinctly local touch by wearing a traditional Arabic Thoub while serving Arabic coffee and dates, blending hospitality with cultural authenticity.

A decade later, in 1997, Emirates turned to Spanish fashion designer Paco Rabanne to reimagine the uniform for a new era of modernity. The updated design maintained the classic beige and red tones but introduced sleeker cuts and a contemporary fit, creating a look that reflected both confidence and global appeal.

Male crew wore navy jackets with beige trousers, while female crew sported refined mandarin-collared jackets and elegantly tailored skirts. By then, Emirates had grown into a major international carrier, and its uniform projected the same level of ambition and sophistication.

As the airline prepared to introduce the Airbus A380 in 2008, the uniform was refreshed once again. Developed by Emirates’ in-house design team in collaboration with Simon Jersey, the look featured subtle pinstripes, red accents, and redesigned hats. The addition of kick pleats in the skirt revealed flashes of Emirates red, reinforcing the brand’s identity while keeping the look polished and professional.

Male crew transitioned to rich chocolate-brown pinstripe suits complemented by cream shirts and striped ties in shades of gold, brown, and red — colours that conveyed both warmth and luxury.

More recently, Emirates has focused on personalisation and comfort without compromising its iconic aesthetic. In 2023, the airline introduced a new range of handcrafted Spanish leather shoes, offering female crew members 15 styles to choose from, ensuring both comfort and individuality. The latest accessories — including handbags, belts, and shoes — feature a brighter, more vibrant shade of red that ties together the heritage and modernity of the Emirates brand.

Now, in 2025, as more than 25,000 cabin crew members represent Emirates across 140 destinations worldwide, the uniform continues to embody elegance, endurance, and excellence. Designed for comfort, practicality, and unmistakable style, it remains an enduring statement of Emirates’ commitment to quality and its reputation for world-class hospitality — a look that will forever be runway ready, both in the skies and beyond.

Riyadh Air and Saudia have announced the implementation of the first phase of their Strategic Cooperation Agreement, marking a major step in strengthening connectivity under Saudi Arabia’s National Aviation Strategy.

The partnership builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2023 and enables the two airlines to expand travel options for domestic and international passengers.

As part of the first phase, Riyadh Air has established a connection with Saudia’s Passenger Service System (PSS), allowing the carriers to implement their codeshare across their respective technology platforms.

Under the RX-SV codeshare, Riyadh Air will place its “RX” designator on selected Saudia-operated flights from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport to six domestic destinations: Abha, Al Qassim, Dammam, Jeddah, Medina and Tabuk.

The agreement will give Riyadh Air passengers access to additional destinations worldwide through convenient connections in Riyadh. For example, travelers from Dammam can connect via Riyadh to Madrid on a single ticket, while passengers flying from Kuala Lumpur can connect through Riyadh to Medina.

By using Saudia’s frequent services between Riyadh and the six codeshare destinations, Riyadh Air will offer passengers more convenient connections aligned with the arrival and departure schedules of its flights at Riyadh.

Both airlines operate within the King Khalid International Airport Terminal 1-4 complex, enabling passengers to benefit from streamlined connections, single-ticket journeys and through-checked baggage to their final destinations.

The first phase represents a significant step toward deeper cooperation between Saudi Arabia’s two national carriers and supports the Kingdom’s broader ambitions to expand its global aviation network.

Source: aaco.org

SalamAir has announced the establishment of Salalah’s first-ever airline base, marking a major step in the airline’s expansion and strengthening direct international connectivity from Oman’s Dhofar Governorate.

The new Salalah-based operation will initially serve three international destinations: Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Chattogram in Bangladesh and Calicut in India. Bookings opened on August 26, with flights scheduled to begin from the end of October as part of SalamAir’s Winter 2026 schedule.

The base follows SalamAir’s expanded operations during the 2026 Khareef season, when the airline increased capacity on the Muscat-Salalah route to as many as 15 daily flights during peak periods.

The airline also introduced special domestic fares for Omani nationals, with one-way tickets starting from OMR 9.99, supporting affordable travel between Muscat and Salalah.

The new base is expected to extend SalamAir’s role beyond the Khareef season by supporting year-round travel demand among residents and expatriate communities in Dhofar while offering more direct access to key regional and international destinations.

Operations from Salalah will be supported by SalamAir’s Airbus A320neo and A321neo fleet. The airline currently operates 18 aircraft, providing additional flexibility to support growing demand across its network.

During the winter season, SalamAir will also operate charter flights linking Salalah with Astana and Almaty in Kazakhstan, supporting inbound tourism from Central Asia.

The Salalah base forms part of SalamAir’s wider strategy to expand its network from key airports across Oman, develop underserved markets and stimulate new travel demand while supporting the growth of the Sultanate’s aviation and tourism sectors.

Source: ZAWYA