Around 45,000 easyJet passengers will be flown by a female pilot today to mark International Women’s Day.
Six all-female crews – which include a female captain, first officer and four female cabin crew – will fly between London, Bologna, Rome, Milan, Munich, Barcelona, Amsterdam and Agadir.
This is believed to be a European record for the most female pilots rostered by an airline in one day.
With more than 100 women pilots on today’s roster, 60% of easyJet’s female flight crew have come out in force to take part in a campaign which is using the hashtag #SheFlies to raise awareness for the airline’s Amy Johnson Flying Initiative, a campaign by the airline to encourage more women to become pilots.
Flight operations director David Morgan was recently named as an ‘agent of change’ by Management Today and the Women’s Business Council, for leading real transformation at the budget carrier and in the aviation industry through easyJet’s Amy Johnson Flying Initiative.
He said: “easyJet is working hard to encourage more women to join this hugely rewarding profession and I believe that no other airline is doing more on this issue.
“Last week we announced a partnership with Girlguiding UK and the sponsorship of a new aviation badge to inspire young girls at an early age and our pilots have visited over 140 schools since launching the initiative to inspire the next generation of pilots.
“According to recent research conducted with our pilot community, a lack of female role models is a key reason that many girls and women do not consider a career as a pilot. Having our female pilots out in force on International Women’s Day will provide visibility of female pilots and hopefully inspire some girls and women to take up this rewarding career.
“At around 6% female pilots in total, easyJet is above the global average. We are working towards reaching our target of 20% of new entrant pilots to be female by 2020.
“In 2017 female new entrant co-pilot numbers were up by 48% year on year and so we are headed in the right direction – with days like International Women’s Day giving us an opportunity to encourage more to train as a pilot.”
Glenda Stone, partnerships director for International Women’s Day said: “The good news is that there is a pipeline of female talent choosing rewarding career paths in the aviation sector. More can still be done, however, to encourage girls into what has traditionally been seen as a male-dominated area.
“Inspirational role models such as female pilots are key to influencing girls’ career choices. EasyJet’s Amy Johnson Flying Initiative is an industry-leading example of tangible action to address gender parity.
“It is impressive to see easyJet joining many groups around the world to support International Women’s Day and #PressforProgress.”