Cathay Pacific is bringing eight decades of aviation fashion back to life in a promotion to celebrate its 80th anniversary.
Nearly 2,000 cabin crew will wear vintage uniforms throughout 2026, including on flights to Australian cities.
From scarlet minidresses and box hats in the swinging Sixties to bold 1970s prints by Pierre Balmain, refined designs by Hermès and Nina Ricci and the signature red tailoring recognised today, Cathay Pacific’s uniforms offer a fascinating snapshot of how fashion, culture and air travel have evolved since 1946.
The cabin crew uniforms have also embodied the airline’s polished brand identity and proud Hong Kong heritage, while simultaneously capturing timely fashion trends and prevailing societal shifts.
Rather than keeping these designs behind glass, Cathay Pacific is returning them to the skies, giving travellers a rare opportunity to see aviation history in action.
For Carlton So, Cathay Pacific’s Inflight Operations Standards Manager, the anniversary initiative to bring back uniforms from different decades has particular personal significance.
“My connection to Cathay Pacific’s uniforms is a very personal one,” he said.
“I began my career as cabin crew wearing Eddie Lau’s first-generation design, so to now be overseeing the vintage uniform initiative as we celebrate Cathay’s 80th anniversary feels incredibly special.
“When you put on a Cathay Pacific uniform, you’re representing much more than an airline. You’re becoming part of a tradition of service that has been carried forward by generations of Cathay people.
“While the styles, silhouettes and details have changed enormously over the decades, that sense of pride and responsibility has remained.”
https://flights.cathaypacific.com/
