In-Flight Fashion Lands at Sky Harbor

From hot pants and go-go boots to disposable paper dresses, the 1960s and 1970s were known for breaking fashion norms and traditions – even in the airline industry.

Mid-century air travel had progressed into a posh experience and airlines built unique “brand identities” to set themselves apart. Each airline found new ways to attract passengers with amenities like onboard movies, gourmet meals and glamorous flight attendants.

Style in the Aisle: Mid-Century Airline Identity is Phoenix Airport Museum’s new exhibition that highlights the golden age of air travel.

Visitors to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport can view eight vibrant flight attendant uniforms, historic photographs and airline amenity objects. Highlights include Hughes Airwest’s 1977 “sundance yellow” dress with matching bucket-style hat, American Airlines plaid “Americana” uniform with racoon-fur cap, and Trans World Airlines’ (TWA) single-use, gold paper dress – part of the “Foreign Accents” collection.

Discover what in-flight service was like through items on display including fine china, themed cocktail swizzle sticks, a first-class menu featuring caviar and lobster, and an ashtray with a lighter complete with airline logos.

Stow your tray table and visit the museum exhibition, located in two display cases at Terminal 4, level 2 near ticketing through October 2021.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, America’s Friendliest Airport^®, has an annual economic impact of more than $38 billion. Every day approximately 1,200 aircraft and more than 120,000 passengers arrive and depart at Sky Harbor. PHX Sky Harbor is funded with airport revenue. No tax dollars are used to support the airport.