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It was a years-long struggle, but China Airlines has finally relented. Their female employees are now allowed to wear pants. According to the Taiwanese airline, the development of diversity has always been a key focus. But nothing could be further from the truth. Human rights are clearly not high on China Airlines’ priority list.

Complaints and legal violations
On January 1st, China Airlines officially announced via a press release that the women’s uniform would be changed. The announcement stated that both ground staff and cabin crew would now have the option to choose between a skirt or pantsuit. The airline cited freedom of choice as the reason for the change and added that diversity has always been a priority.
I’ve said it before, and it applies again here: companies, especially airlines, never change their dress codes without a reason. No matter how much they like to present it as an act of goodwill, there’s always something behind it. Often, it’s due to employee complaints; sometimes unions raise the alarm; and in some cases, the dress code even violates the law. But China Airlines took it to extremes. Even after all three scenarios occurred, women were still required to wear skirts.
Unions, human rights organizations, and the government
It all began in 1993 when, on November 4th, flight 605 ended up in the water. After the incident, flight attendants complained that their skirts were too tight and too long, hindering their ability to act during the evacuation. Yet, China Airlines chose not to modify the uniforms.
After numerous complaints from the women, the Taoyuan Flight Workers’ Professional Union took action in 2023. The union filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), arguing that the dress codes for female flight attendants were not only sexist but also dangerous. The NHRC agreed with the complaint and published a report with their findings and recommendations concerning the sexist dress codes. Notably, this was not just about China Airlines but almost all airlines in Taiwan. At that time, Tigerair Taiwan was the only organization that allowed female flight attendants to wear pants.
It’s not surprising that this only happened 20 years after the accident. While the women had complained back in 1993, there was little legal support available at the time. However, in recent years, gender equality, women’s rights, and discrimination have received increased attention.
In 2007, Taiwan signed the CEDAW, the international Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. By doing so, they committed to improving gender rights and promoting gender equality in the country. In 2012, a special law was enacted to ensure that CEDAW guidelines could be enforced. Since then, several laws have been introduced to prevent employers from discriminating based on gender.
China Airlines gives in to pressure: women can now wear pants
Despite complaints from women about the safety issues related to their uniforms and the law being on their side, China Airlines held firm on their pencil skirts. The government eventually deemed the situation so severe that in November 2023, they decided to cut funding to the airlines. As they say, pressure makes diamonds—or in this case, breaks stubbornness. Yet even the withholding of $1.55 million didn’t seem to make much of an impression.
It wasn’t until a year later, in August 2024, that the major airlines finally gave in. EVA Air, China Airlines, and Starlux Airlines publicly announced that female staff would receive pants as part of their uniforms.
China Airlines promised to consult with the women on how the uniforms and dress code could be improved. Yes, the same women who in 1993 said their skirts were too tight, too long, and therefore unsafe. The same women who 20 years later complained to the union about discriminatory dress codes.


You’d think that China Airlines would feel ashamed about how long it took to introduce such a basic clothing option. But no, in the press release, they praised themselves for “breaking the traditional stereotype of female service staff wearing skirts.” They claimed this move “emphasized the modern woman” and that the new option was “well-received by the company.”
One thing is certain: their written marketing and communication are at least taken very seriously.
Greetings,
Aileen