In a soaring tribute to women in the aviation industry, three of Australia's major airlines – Virgin Australia, Qantas, and Jetstar – shifted gears for a remarkable celebration on International Women's Day.

By operating flights led entirely by women, these airlines aimed to spotlight the pivotal role women play in aviation, breaking stereotypes and inspiring future generations.

Virgin Australia

Virgin Australia took to the skies in celebration of IWD 2024, dispatching a special flight led by none other than Deborah Lawrie, Australia's first major airline female pilot.

Lawrie, a trailblazer in her own right, paved the way for women in the piloting profession after winning a landmark High Court discrimination case in 1979. Reflecting on her journey, Lawrie said: "To be in the company of so many remarkable women today celebrating together is a full circle moment."

The entire crew of 30, spanning pilots, cabin crew, ground crew, and more, were all women, showcasing the breadth of opportunities available within the aviation industry. Following the flight, Lawrie and her crew attended a networking event where they shared their insights and advice with 50 aspiring female aviation students, igniting sparks of inspiration and possibility.

Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka echoed the sentiment: "It was less than 25 years ago that we had no female pilots flying commercial jets in Australia, so to see this come to life with wonderful female role models at every touchpoint makes me tremendously proud of the achievements of women in aviation and how far we have come.

"Today is about inspiring the next generation of women and showcasing the diverse jobs aviation can offer so that we can continue to push for progress in our sector and drive greater gender equality, which is really at the heart of International Women's Day."

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Qantas and Jetstar

Qantas and Jetstar joined the chorus of celebration by operating three domestic flights led entirely by female teams.

Captain Camille Macpherson, representing Qantas, expressed pride in operating a flight on International Women's Day, aiming to inspire young girls to consider careers in aviation.

"Aviation offers incredible opportunities for women – whether it's in the cabin, the hangar, or the flight deck," Macpherson said.

“It's my great hope that young girls will see us walking through an airport terminal or onboard an aircraft and consider a career in aviation."

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A sky full of possibilities?

Global disparities where women make up only a fraction of pilots and engineers. At Qantas, for example, 93% of pilots and 96% of engineers are male.

“Becoming a pilot takes years of training and increasing the number of female pilots isn't going to happen overnight,” said Qantas Group Chief People Officer Catherine Walsh, as reported by 9News.

"We're expanding our outreach into schools to promote aviation as a career, which hopefully results in more girls choosing subjects that put them on track to join us in the cockpit or hangar in the future.”

Echoes of progress reverberate throughout the aviation industry. Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus noted the transformative impact of pioneers like Lawrie in breaking traditional gender roles within the industry. "Women have come a long way in aviation," Argus said, as quoted by Mirage News.

Indeed, these flights led entirely by women symbolise more than just a momentary celebration – they signify an important step towards greater gender equality in aviation. Through their determination, skill, and passion, women continue to redefine the boundaries of what's possible in the skies above.