AirAsia has announced that female cabin crew are now allowed to wear a hijab as part of their uniform. The headscarf has been specially designed to match the style and branding of the airline. And they are not the only ones. The role of a hijab flight attendant is becoming more accepted at international airlines.In this article, I outline which airlines allow their cabin crew to wear a hijab.
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Wearing a hijab as cabin crew at Citilink
In 2018, Indonesian airline Citilink decided to add a hijab to its uniform options. Internal research showed that out of 750 female employees, around 185 wanted to wear a hijab at work. To ensure visual consistency, the airline designed a hijab that perfectly matched the color palette and style of the uniform.
Mandatory hijab at Amal
At Amal Airlines, part of Malaysia Airlines, female cabin crew are required to wear a hijab on board. The airline operates special flights for Muslim pilgrims traveling on religious journeys.
Pakistan International Airlines
At Pakistan International Airlines, a scarf is a standard part of the uniform. Female crew members can choose whether to wear it loosely around the neck or use it to partially or fully cover their hair.
Sriwijaya Air and the hijab flight attendant
Since 2016, female cabin crew at Sriwijaya Air have been allowed to wear a hijab. It is optional, but those who choose to wear one receive a matching headscarf from the airline.
Hijab options for cabin crew at Saudia
Although the official Saudia uniform includes a head covering worn along the side of the head, many Muslims do not consider this a hijab that meets religious guidelines. Female cabin crew are therefore allowed to wear an alternative form of hijab, as shown in the image above.
EgyptAir allows flight attendant to choose
At EgyptAir, wearing a hijab is not mandatory, but it is permitted. Cabin crew who wish to do so typically use the scarf that is otherwise worn around the neck.
Pastel-colored hijabs at Royal Brunei
The hijab worn by Royal Brunei cabin crew is one of my personal favorites. Not only does the fabric complement the uniform perfectly, but the airline also offers several soft pastel shades that work beautifully together.
Red hijab for Lion Air flight attendant
At Lion Air, the hijab color has been matched to the trousers, creating a cohesive and well-balanced uniform look.
Hijab flight attendant at Trigana Air
Similar to Lion Air, the hijab worn by Trigana Air cabin crew matches the color of the trousers. Simple, but elegant.
Mandatory hijab at Iran Air
For female cabin crew at Iran Air, wearing a hijab is not optional but a standard part of the uniform.
Pelita Air’s minimalist hijab
Pelita Air has chosen a plain hijab in a color that complements the uniform. The result is a clean and understated look.
Hijab allowed only for ground staff at Malaysia Airlines
While cabin crew at Malaysia Airlines are not permitted to wear a hijab, this is allowed for ground staff. This likely relates to the airline’s long-standing cabin crew uniform design, which the company prefers not to alter.
Optional hijab at Riyadh Air
Riyadh Air was founded in 2024, and the Saudi airline immediately included a hijab as part of its uniform package. Wearing it is optional for female cabin crew.
More airlines that allow hijab flight attendants
In addition to the airlines listed above, there are more carriers where wearing a hijab is permitted. At easyJet, for example, cabin crew may wear their own hijab, provided it is black, grey, or light grey. Prints and patterns are not allowed.
At Oman Air, female cabin crew wear a scarf that wraps around the head and is attached to the hat, but this is not considered a hijab. According to an airline employee, wearing a hijab is only permitted during Ramadan. At Maldivian, Flynas, SalamAir, British Airways, and Garuda Indonesia, female cabin crew are also allowed to wear a hijab if they choose to do so.
Airlines that allow hijab flight attendants
The growing acceptance of hijab flight attendants shows how airline uniform policies continue to evolve. It is very likely that many other, smaller airlines also allow this, or that some airlines simply do not communicate these policies publicly.
Kind regards,
Aileen