Women Take Flight: Air India Celebrates International Women’s Day by Operating 18 Flights with All-Women Teams

Air India’s initiative aligns with the Tata Group’s broader mission to foster diversity and equal opportunities in the workplace.

Embracing the 2025 International Women’s Day theme, AccelerateAction, Air India (AI) and Air India Express (IX) took a significant step towards gender inclusivity by operating 18 flights on select international and domestic routes entirely managed by all-women teams. These teams comprised pilots, cabin crew, roster planning analysts, flight dispatchers, meteorologists, crew controllers, and operations control duty managers, highlighting the crucial roles women play in the aviation sector.

Air India’s initiative aligns with the Tata Group’s broader mission to foster diversity and equal opportunities in the workplace. The airline’s all-women crew flights operated long-haul and regional routes, with destinations including Melbourne, London Heathrow, Dammam, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah, and Abu Dhabi. Domestically, flights covered cities such as Varanasi, Pune, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Vijayawada, and Guwahati.

Campbell Wilson, CEO and Managing Director of Air India Group, reaffirmed the company’s dedication to gender diversity, stating, “At Air India Group, we take pride in the fact that women leading from the front are a norm rather than an exception. India leads the world in the number of women commercial pilots, and Air India Group significantly contributes to this achievement.”

Women now constitute 46% of Air India’s total workforce, including 16% of pilots—nearly three times the global industry average. Female representation is also strong in other key operational areas, with women making up 21% of ground services staff, 27% of finance personnel, and 22% of the digital and technology division. These figures have grown significantly since Air India rejoined the Tata Group.

As part of its long-term vision, Air India is a signatory to the International Air Transport Association’s #25by2025 initiative, which aims to boost female representation at mid and senior management levels. Additionally, Air India Express has demonstrated its commitment to gender equality, with women comprising over 13% of its pilot workforce and nearly half of its total employees.

To further support women in aviation, the company launched the #HerMatters initiative, designed to help female employees balance professional and personal responsibilities. This programme included webinars and panel discussions on financial independence, return-to-work strategies after maternity leave, and leadership development.

Air India Group also announced plans to inspire young women to consider careers in aviation. Employees will conduct career sessions at girls’ schools across Delhi’s National Capital Region, sharing their experiences and highlighting opportunities within the growing industry.

Special Promotions for Women Travellers

To engage passengers in the celebration, Air India offered special promotions from March 1-8, 2025. These included fare discounts for bookings containing at least one female passenger and a 5% discount on gift card purchases, encouraging women to take charge of their travel plans.

Global Aviation Celebrations for International Women’s Day

Air India’s efforts resonate with global initiatives by other airlines marking International Women’s Day. SWISS International Air Lines (LX) will operate all-female crew flights on March 8, 2025, between Zurich, Switzerland, and Gothenburg, Sweden. Flights LX 1226 and LX 1227 will have all-female cockpit and cabin teams, reinforcing the airline’s dedication to gender diversity.

Beyond onboard roles, SWISS is working with airport partners in Zurich and Gothenburg to maximise female participation in ground operations. Women will manage key functions such as aircraft loading, unloading, and pushback operations, showcasing the extensive contributions of women in aviation.

By embracing AccelerateAction for International Women’s Day 2025, Air India and Air India Express have taken a proactive approach to highlighting and enhancing gender diversity in aviation. With strong commitments to increasing female representation across all levels of operation, Air India Group continues to lead by example, inspiring more women to pursue careers in the industry.

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