The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents some 290 airlines—82 per cent of global air traffic—has launched a 25by2025Campaign—an airline industry initiative to advance gender diversity in the airline industry by 2025.
The campaign is a voluntary commitment by participating IATA member airlines. Key among the commitments of airlines participating in the 25by2025 Campaign are:
- Increasing the number of women in senior positions (to be defined by the member airlines) by either 25 per cent against currently reported metrics or to minimum representation of 25 per cent by 2025
- Increasing the number of women in under-represented jobs (e.g., pilots and operations) by either 25 per cent against currently reported metrics or to a minimum representation of 25 per cent by 2025
- Reporting annually on key diversity metrics
IATA member airlines who have already signed up to the 25by2025 Campaign include China Eastern, Lufthansa Group and Qatar Airways.
Currently, there is no comprehensive airline industry-wide gender diversity statistical report. But, with women representing around five per cent of the global pilot population and three per cent of CEOs, the gender imbalance in the industry speaks for itself.
In addition to the commitments from member airlines under the 25by2025 Campaign, IATA will also be making the following commitments:
- Increasing the representation of women in IATA’s senior management (directors and above) from the current 19 per cent to at least 25 per cent by 2025.
- Working with member airlines to increase the number of women they appoint to IATA governance roles from the current 17 per cent to a minimum of 25 per cent by 2025.
- Ensuring that the number of women participating as panelists / speakers at IATA conferences is a minimum of 25 per cent by 2025.
- Creating a forum for sharing diversity and inclusion initiatives and best practices across the industry and publishing annual industry statistics on gender diversity.
“Our work will not be done in 2025, in fact, this is only the beginning,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s director general and CEO. “Our ultimate aim is, of course, for a 50-50 gender split with equal opportunities for everyone in every part of our industry.”
