From September 1, the airline has started rolling out new uniforms for cabin crew and other frontline staff, bringing Indian textile traditions into a much more contemporary wardrobe. Air India Express has changed more than its aircraft look.
The new outfits are being introduced across cabin crew, airport services, aviation security and flight operations teams.
“Looks nice actually…” one X user wrote. Another called it “an upgrade,” while someone else simply said, “Not bad at all. “Isn’t blue a little weird for a red airline?” one person asked. Another joked that the airline was trying to “beat 6E at everything,” referring to IndiGo’s familiar blue branding. Air India Express says the uniforms were developed with the realities of frontline work in mind.
And while uniforms are usually designed around practicality first, this collection puts quite a bit of thought into where its visual details come from. The inspiration has been taken from traditional textiles and crafts from different parts of India. There are references to Kanjeevaram from Tamil Nadu, Pattu from Himachal Pradesh, Patola from Gujarat, Gamosa from Assam and Bagh from Madhya Pradesh. Rather than reproducing these textiles literally, the idea is to bring elements of them into the overall design. The women’s uniforms use contemporary silhouettes inspired by the traditional kurti, paired with tailored jackets, scarves and pocket squares. The result is a mix of familiar Indian details and the kind of structured clothing you’d expect from a modern airline uniform. Colour is another noticeable change. The collection uses Air India Express’ Xpress Blue, with touches of Xpress Orange. It’s a fairly different direction from the red-heavy visual identity many people associate with the airline, and that didn’t go unnoticed online. Some social media users liked the change. But there was also some confusion about the blue. The collection wasn’t designed only to look good in photographs. The designs were created in-house by Air India Express designer Pooja Krishnan, who worked on the women’s cabin crew uniforms as well as outfits for airport services, aviation security and flight operations. The men’s cabin crew uniform was developed with Trent Limited. The uniforms use banana crepe fabric, chosen for qualities such as breathability, comfort and durability. That’s particularly relevant for cabin crew and airport staff, who can spend long hours moving between passengers, aircraft and terminals. So there’s a practical side to the collection too. The clothes need to hold their shape, remain comfortable through long shifts and still look put together. The new designs are also part of Air India Express’ wider Tales of India visual theme, which has already appeared on the airline’s aircraft through tail art inspired by Indian art, crafts and cultural traditions. This time, though, those references aren’t sitting on the tail of a plane. They’re being worn by the people passengers see first.
And judging by the early reactions online, the biggest talking point may end up being the colour. Whether the Xpress Blue becomes as recognisable as the airline’s older red look is something passengers will decide for themselves. Looking for trusted parenting advice? Follow TOI Parenting Circle on Instagram for expert guidance, relatable stories, and practical tips delivered every day.