Crew of Yeongnam Air show their new uniforms. / Courtesy of Yeongnam Air

By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

Yeongnam Air, a low cost, regional carrier, has revealed its crew's uniforms, almost finishing preparations for the launch of the business.

The Busan-based airline Monday showcased the uniforms of its cabin attendants, pilots and ground crew.

The carrier designed the uniform with Hyundai H&S, a Hyundai affiliate that makes uniforms, for six months.

``We scrapped about 20 tentative design plans. We tried to apply the main color of the airline ― blue ― to the uniform, as well as making it elegant and practical,'' Kwon Tae-hyung, a Yeongnam Air public relations official, said.

For female cabin attendants, the airline adopted a one-piece dress for the first time for a Korean airline.

``One-piece dress uniforms for female attendants are not rare in foreign carriers. Two-piece suit, which all Korean airlines have adopted, has a rather rigid image. We adopted the one-piece style to give a more comfortable and casual image to passengers,'' Kwon said.

Two types of dress were designed each in two colors, blue and gray. The attendants will also wear a scarf and a wide belt on which Yeongnam Air's logo-shaped brooch is attached.

Male cabin attendants will wear a white shirt, dark blue pants and a bright blue necktie.

Female ground crew will wear a dark blue skirt and a light gray blouse, while men will wear dark blue pants and a gray shirt.

The airline is now under examination by the aviation authority to obtain an air operator's certificate (AOC). ``We need to see whether the authority will issue the certificate or demand us come up with additional systems or facilities. But we expect to obtain it within this month,'' Kwon said.

After obtaining the AOC, the airline will start receiving reservations through its call center, the Internet, and offices at airports where it will operate.

It plans to start operations in the middle of June for the Busan-Jeju and Daegu-Jeju routes and expand the service to the Seoul-Busan and Seoul-Jeju routes in July.

The airline currently has one Fokker-100 jet, but two aircrafts will be added next month. It also has some 30 flight attendants.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr