Qantas' Beard Ban Sparks Resistance from Regional Pilots

Qantas is seeking to ban beards for all pilots in an effort to align its regional operations with the main airline’s clean-shaven policy. The move is being framed as a safety measure focused on ensuring oxygen masks fit properly during emergencies. However, some regional pilots are resisting the change and questioning the science behind it, with some taking part in a growing facial hair protest.

Currently, Qantas mainline pilots are required to be clean-shaven, while those flying for its regional arm, QantasLink, have been permitted to wear beards. This inconsistency has led some long-haul crew to raise concerns, prompting Qantas to commission a safety review by consultancy QinetiQ. The review determined that facial hair could reduce an oxygen mask’s effectiveness during emergencies and recommended a consistent grooming policy across the airline.

Under the proposal, all Qantas-branded pilots would be held to the same grooming standard. The airline has told staff that while emergencies requiring oxygen masks are rare, the risks of a mask not working correctly are too serious to ignore. A formal consultation process is now underway, and pilots have been invited to give feedback before August 12.

Despite the safety concerns raised by the airline, resistance has emerged. Some QantasLink pilots have begun growing beards in protest and are pointing to alternative research that contradicts Qantas' concerns. A 2024 study by an aviation university reported no evidence that beards significantly affect oxygen mask performance or pilot safety, raising doubts about the need for the policy shift.

Across the aviation industry, rules around facial hair vary. Virgin Australia, Emirates and Etihad allow pilots to keep neatly trimmed beards, though many US airlines continue to enforce beard bans. Firefighters are typically also required to be clean-shaven due to mask safety requirements. In contrast, the Royal Australian Air Force relaxed its beard policy in late 2022 to promote a more modern and inclusive image.

Source: The Australian, Australian Aviation, Travel Radar.

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