IATA Calls for Gender Diversity in Airlines

IATA Calls for Gender Diversity in Airlines Airlines need to do more to attract women pilots, engineers and executives if they are to cope with the industry doubling in size in the next 20 years, an executive at the International Air ransport Association has said. According to Travel Weekly, during the World Tourism Forum in Lucerne, Switzerland, on Friday, IATA senior vice president, Paul Steele, said, “We have to attract a lot more pilots and engineers. We have to attract more women.

"We’re not doing a good job at the moment. There is not one woman CEO on the IATA executive.”

Steele noted that IATA transports 10 million passengers and operates 100,000 flights.

"Those numbers are going to double in 20 years. Where are the people going to come from?” he said.

“There is a positive trend–6.6% of US pilots are female, but 12% of student pilots are women. However, we need to do a lot more.”

There are currently 10 women running airlines, with Carolyn McCall at easyJet the most high profile.

Rob Gurney, chief executive of airline alliance Oneworld, said, “I don’t think there is resistance in the industry to recruiting women. Whether aviation is attractive [to women] is probably more of a factor.”

Steele suggested the problem is not pay or benefits, arguing that jobs in aviation typically have a higher value than in the broader economy.

"The issue is it takes a long time to train a pilot or air traf controller. Do people have the commitment to do that?” he said.

“Flying ought to be one of the most aspirational things to do, but traditionally it has been about boys and their toys. W to make sure there are no subliminal biases.

”Michael Kerkloh, president and chief executive of Munich Airport and a board member of airports council  “There is a trend among women, but also among men, not to do something technical. Everyone wants to do marketing.

“But we have female CEOs of airports now is a focus on getting women into top jobs.to find the right woman. Sometimes there are not enough [to choose from].”