Heels and dress shoes no longer mandatory: KLM staff are allowed to wear sneakers

Employees can choose specially developed KLM sneakers or their own footwear. In the latter case, they must meet certain requirements: the shoes must be made of black or dark blue imitation leather and have a white sole. This is also what the sneakers look like that Filling Pieces, a shoe label from Amsterdam, designed for the airline.

Now that sneakers are allowed, KLM is responding to the demand for more comfortable work shoes. KLM staff who wore pumps wanted an alternative, the airline reports. According to KLM, wearing sneakers is becoming more common among other airlines and fits in with the current zeitgeist.

More comfortable

A test shows that wearing more comfortable footwear contributes to employee well-being. It was already the case that employees with complaints about their feet, back or neck, for example, were allowed to wear more comfortable shoes. “We are now extending this to the rest of our staff,” says a spokesperson.

The sneakers may only be worn under pants. “The black sneakers are for the dark blue suit. The dark blue sneakers match the cobalt blue suit.”

Anyone wearing the uniform with a skirt must still wear pumps. “We will see whether trousers are now chosen more often. But I have also heard from employees that they will wear the sneakers at the airport and the heels on the plane.”