Media release

26 April 2006

Freedom Air Takes New Zambesi Designed Uniform on Board

Freedom Air is unveiling a new look in-flight today with a uniform designed by New Zealand fashion house Zambesi.

Freedom is adopting the uniform as part of the Air New Zealand Group, which will be worn by all customer service and in-flight staff.

“The Zambesi collection is very elegant and modern, and will be a refreshing change for passengers and our staff,” says Freedom Air General Manager, Stephen Jones.

The adoption of the Air New Zealand Group uniform reflects Freedom Air’s direction for the future, which will see the subsidiary airline more closely aligned with its parent company.

“It makes sense for us to share a uniform, and our staff are very excited about moving to this new designer look. We are proud to be adopting a uniform specially created by leading New Zealand designers that shows off the best of Kiwi style.”

However, while the uniform will be the same as that worn by Air New Zealand staff, the Freedom Air brand will remain separate and customers can still expect Freedom’s unique service and in-flight offerings.

“We may be sharing uniforms but we’ll still be flying yellow planes,” says Jones.

“As a value based airline we strive to provide our customers with really, really low fares, and in this case, we are able to benefit from being a part of the Air New Zealand Group by minimising costs and having a beautiful new uniform.”

The Zambesi uniform collection is based on a natural colour scheme of teal, greenstone and schist and designed to be smart, stylish and distinctly New Zealand with Koru-inspired curves and an embroidered Maori design penned by Derek Lardelli.

Four signature pieces including a shirt incorporating the Maori design, wrap, hat and paua-inspired scarf culminate to emphasise the uniform’s uniquely New Zealand design.

For female cabin crew, a dress, Merino wrap, trousers and a military-styled hat have been introduced, giving woman the option to wear garments that flatter their own body shape. For men, a single breasted suit worn with a shirt and optional tie completes the cabin crew look.

ENDS