Data revealed at the Iata AGM in June show that not enough airline members have participated in its “25by2025” initiative.
Iata created the initiative in 2019 to elevate more women into aviation leadership roles. Aviation companies pledged to increase the number of women in senior positions and underrepresented areas by at least 25% by 2025.
According to Travel Weekly, the association said the steps made towards elevating women were not big enough and only just over half of Iata’s airline members have made the commitment.
Figures showed that among participants in the initiative, senior leadership roles held by women had increased from 24% in 2021 to 28%, and that the number of airlines that had a female CEO had increased since 2021 by 20% to 28 airlines.
Industry leaders agreed it would take committed leadership to improve the gender imbalance in the industry.
“Things are being done, especially with Iata 25by2025, to address that issue. But it has to move faster," said Yvonne Makolo, RwandAir CEO and Chair of the Iata Board of Governors. “It's not a woman problem. It's not for women to fix it. It's for all of us to fix it."