Are Eurowings’ new cabin crew sneakers a good idea?

Cabin crew at Eurowings are now allowed to wear sneakers every day. Previously, this was limited to Fridays under the name “Sneaker Flydays”. The German airline now refers to the concept as “Sneakers Any Day”. The idea behind the change is to improve comfort for employees. But how practical is this sneaker really?

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Eurowings cabin crew sneakers

According to Max Kownatzki, CEO of Eurowings, the sneakers create “good vibes on board”.

“Whether you are travelling for business or leisure, no other shoe combines professionalism, comfort and ease as naturally as the sneaker. The modern look also underlines our identity as Europe’s value airline, with a clear ambition to distinguish ourselves from traditional low cost competitors. This applies not only to the quality of our products and services, but also to the way we present ourselves,” Kownatzki said.

It is no surprise that Eurowings now allows sneakers every day. Airlines around the world have debated for years whether companies should force female employees to wear heels. In practice, flight attendants often wear flat shoes on board already. Yet many airlines still require women to wear heels while walking to and from the aircraft.

More airlines now cite gender discrimination and health concerns as reasons to abolish heels. In 2025, airlines such as Scandinavian Airlines, S7 Airlines, Akasa Air, Bangkok Airways, Sky Airline and even Japan Airlines introduced custom sneakers for cabin crew. The move by Japan Airlines stood out in particular, because wearing heels at work remains deeply rooted in Japanese culture.

Still, the shift no longer feels surprising. Airlines including KLM, SkyUp Airlines, Aerolineas Argentinas and Brussels Airlines had already moved in this direction. Airlines that refuse to follow the trend now face criticism more quickly. Forcing women to wear heels at work simply no longer feels acceptable in 2026.

Are white sneakers really practical?

It should be clear that working in heels is unhealthy for the body. It also remains a form of discrimination as long as men are not expected to wear them. German legislation on gender discrimination, which applies to Eurowings, reflects this shift as well.

What stands out, however, is that the airline is part of Lufthansa. During the recent launch of its new uniforms, Lufthansa did not show a single sneaker. The company also gave no explanation about possible future footwear changes.

Still, while cabin crew members around the world often welcome sneakers, not every sneaker works well on the job. The fit needs to support long hours on your feet, but the colour and material also need to be practical. And that is exactly where Eurowings may have made the wrong choice.

Cabin crew previously wore neat black shoes. Now the airline has introduced a white sneaker instead. That makes the shoe impractical and less sustainable. In an industry where presentation matters, employees need to look polished and professional. Once white shoes no longer clean up properly, staff need to replace them.

So yes, sneakers are far more comfortable than heels. But airlines should also think carefully about colour choices. Because white never stays white. We all know that.

Kind regards,
Aileen