Airlines and women (not) in leadership on International Women's Day
Celebrating women in airlines in 2020 on International Women's Day, 8-Mar-2020.
Back in 2010, CAPA conducted a study on the state of airline gender diversity around the world, asking "why don't women run airlines?" We come back for a re-look every year at this time.
That study a decade ago demonstrated that 18 airlines around the world were led by women, noting that a "velocity of change" was needed. Since then CAPA has conducted a number of panel discussions on the topic at its Summits around the world.
Fast forward to today, the bad news is that the number of female airline CEOs hasn't improved at all over the past decade and in fact has diminished. Today, only 12 airlines currently have a female in the role of CEO, president or managing director.
That is not a fact that the industry can be proud of. There are continuous assertions by senior figures in airlines of the obvious need to embrace the skills that half the population has to offer.
- The number of female airline CEOs has not improved over the past decade and has actually decreased.
- Only 12 airlines currently have a female in the role of CEO, president, or managing director.
- The lack of female representation in top airline positions is a concerning issue for the industry.
- Gender diversity in the airline industry goes beyond just the top job.
- CAPA has conducted panel discussions and produced reports on the topic of women in airlines.
- CAPA continues to advocate for change and urges the industry to address the lack of female representation.
Certainly, there is more to the wider issue of women in airlines than just the top job.
But as a lightning rod for broader gender representation in the airline industry, there is no more visible indicator of progress we have made.
Sadly there is little indication we have made any at all.
At the CAPA World Aviation Summit in Dec-2019, we again looked at the issue in a panel led by Natasa Kazmer, Leadership Consultant, NK Consulting.
CAPA Panel: Social Impact In The Aviation Industry - Gender Diversity, CAPA World Aviation Summit Dec-2019
NOTE: If this video does not appear on your viewer, please click here: Social Impact In The Aviation Industry - Gender Diversity
This is a perennial topic at CAPA events. A selection of the panel discussions appears on CAPA TV, including:
Shattering The Ceiling - The Rise Of Women In Asian Aviation
Why Don't Women Run Airlines?
CAPA's reports on Women in Airlines
CAPA has also produced a large number of reports on the topic over the years, some of which can be found here: