In a landmark initiative ahead of International Women’s Day 2025, Qantas and Jetstar are launching over 50 flights operated entirely by women this week. The campaign aims to inspire young girls and women to pursue careers in aviation, particularly in roles traditionally dominated by men.
The flights, which begin today, will be managed and operated by more than 250 female professionals, including pilots, cabin crew, engineers, and operations staff from Qantas, QantasLink, and Jetstar. These flights will cover over 20 routes across Australia, New Zealand, and Asia.
The first flight, a Jetstar service from Adelaide to Sydney, departed this morning. Other routes include Sydney to Hobart, Brisbane to Geraldton, Cairns to Melbourne, Sydney to Perth, Auckland to Christchurch, and Tokyo to Fukuoka.
Celebrating Women in Aviation
Second Officer B787 Brigitte Howe expressed pride in the initiative, highlighting the progress women have made in aviation. “It’s exciting to see so many talented women come together to make this happen,” Howe said. “These flights celebrate the women who paved the way for us and show young girls that they too can thrive in this industry.”
Jetstar’s Senior Manager of Flying Operations, Captain Lizzie Archibald, emphasized the importance of showcasing female leadership in aviation. “Jetstar is proud to have women in leadership roles who inspire the next generation,” she said. “This week is about showing young girls the diverse career opportunities in aviation, from pilots and engineers to ground staff and corporate teams.”
Addressing Gender Imbalance in Aviation
Despite progress, aviation remains a male-dominated field, particularly in roles like pilots and engineers.
The Qantas Group has introduced several initiatives to address this imbalance:
- The Qantas Group Pilot Academy has doubled its scholarships for female and First Nations students to 20.
- Women now make up 20% of the apprentice intake at the Qantas Group Engineering Academy, with a record 35% of Jetstar’s 2025 engineering graduates being women.
- School outreach programs and work experience opportunities aim to attract more women to aviation careers.
- The employee-led Altitude Network supports gender equality across the organization.
Catherine Walsh, Qantas Group Chief People Officer, acknowledged that change takes time. “We’re expanding our school outreach to encourage girls to dream big and explore STEM careers,” she said. “We hope these flights show young girls that they can thrive in technical roles, whether in a hangar, the flight deck, or leading this airline in the future.”
This week’s flights not only celebrate the achievements of women in aviation but also aim to inspire the next generation to take to the skies.
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