Virgin Atlantic has relaxed its policy on tattoos as they strive to hire upwards of 300 staff members in an upcoming recruitment drive.
The British airline will no longer require cabin crew to conceal their tattoos while at work, a first for any UK airline. Previous guidelines enforced staff to cover body art with long sleeved shirts.
“At Virgin Atlantic, we want everyone to be themselves and know that they belong. Many people use tattoos to express their unique identities, and our customer-facing and uniformed colleagues should not be excluded from doing so if they choose,” Estelle Hollingworth, Chief People Officer of Virgin Atlantic, said in a statement.
READ MORE: Virgin Airlines easing of tattoo policy marks major change in the industry
The relaxed attitude towards tattoos, which is widely regarded as a sign of inclusivity, coincides with the soaring demand for international travel. The Sir Richard Branson airline received almost 5,000 applications in January for cabin crew positions, hiring 400 people for roles within the company.
The airline welcomed the shift in policy on social media with a post on International Flight Attendants Day, which captured staff proudly showing off their tattoos.
“ Today we’re championing the dazzling collection of individuals who are our wonderful cabin crew. We’ve always encouraged our people to be themselves, so from today, they can now show their tattoos with pride,” the airline captioned in a Twitter post on 31st May.
Virgin Atlantic, which is famous for its traditional red uniform, also loosened a 2019 policy that required female staff members to wear makeup.
Women working on Virgin Atlantic were also given the option of wearing trousers instead of skirts in the same year.
Aer Lingus also adopted this stance in 2019, although the display of tattoos continues to be prohibited by both Aer Lingus and Ryanair.
Virgin Atlantic will continue to require staff to cover up tattoos of the neck, face and those that make use of offensive symbols while working.
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