Singapore Airlines to replace flight attendant sandals with closed-toe shoes

Singapore Airlines will phase out the open-toe sandals currently worn by its female cabin crew, replacing them with closed-toe wedge shoes starting in January 2027. While the iconic Pierre Balmain-designed sarong kebaya will remain part of the uniform, the footwear change aims to improve safety and comfort for employees.

The new leather shoes feature a widened toe box, padded backs, cushioned insoles, and a supportive wedge heel. This design is intended to protect crew members from spills and falling objects during flight operations. The transition will allow staff to wear a single pair of shoes throughout their duties rather than switching between sandals and slingbacks.

The development of the new footwear took 31 months and involved collaboration with designer Pazzion. The shoes will retain the airline’s signature batik motif, with colors indicating different crew ranks. Prototypes underwent wear tests on actual flights to ensure functionality and support.