Air India Group Celebrates International Women’s Day with All-Women Managed Flights
Air India Group marked International Women’s Day with a strong demonstration of its commitment to inclusivity and diversity by operating 18 flights managed entirely by women professionals. This initiative aligns with the Tata Group’s broader vision of fostering equality and promoting a level playing field at the workplace.
Under the theme #AccelerateAction, Air India and Air India Express launched multiple initiatives for women employees while also offering exclusive benefits for female passengers. The all-women flights operated on both domestic and international routes, covering destinations such as Melbourne, London Heathrow, Dammam, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi, Varanasi, Pune, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Vijayawada, and Guwahati.
Women in Aviation: Leading the Way
These special flights were managed by an all-women team, including pilots, cabin crew, crew roster planning analysts, flight dispatchers, meteorologists, crew controllers, and operations control duty managers. The initiative highlights Air India’s commitment to providing leadership opportunities for women in aviation, where India already leads globally in the number of female commercial pilots.
Campbell Wilson, CEO & Managing Director of Air India & Chairman of Air India Express, emphasized the company’s dedication to gender diversity: “At Air India Group, women leading from the front is a norm rather than an exception. Our focus is on building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce with strong female representation in decision-making roles, which is integral to our transformation journey.”
Rising Numbers: Women in Air India
Women currently make up 46% of Air India’s total workforce, including 16% of pilots (three times the global average), 21% in ground services, 27% in finance, and 22% in the digital and technology division. These numbers have seen significant growth since Air India rejoined the Tata Group.
Air India is also a signatory to IATA’s #25by2025 initiative, aiming to increase the number of women in mid and senior management roles. Meanwhile, Air India Express maintains over 13% female pilots and nearly 50% female workforce, further underlining the Group’s commitment to gender equality.
#HerMatters: Supporting Women Employees
On an organizational level, Air India launched the #HerMatters initiative to help women employees manage critical life events with ease, ensuring better work-life balance. Webinars and panel discussions were held on topics such as financial independence, returning to work after maternity leave, and leadership sponsorship for women.
Additionally, Air India employees will visit girls` schools in the National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi to inspire young women to pursue careers in aviation. This outreach aims to nurture future female leaders in the industry.
Exclusive Offers for Women Travelers
To further celebrate Women’s Day, Air India introduced special promotions from 1-8 March 2025, including:
- Fare discounts for bookings with at least one woman in the Passenger Name Record (PNR).
- 5% discount on gift card purchases to empower women travelers.
With these initiatives, Air India Group continues to pave the way for greater inclusivity in the aviation industry while inspiring future generations of women to take flight in their careers.
An all-women crew operated Air India Express’ Chennai - Pune flight today as part of the airline’s International Women’s Day celebrations. The airline operated 14 all-women crew flights across domestic and international sectors to mark the occasion. Air India Express operates 131 weekly flights from Chennai, connecting the city directly to 16 domestic and 4 international destinations. From Tiruchirappalli, the airline operates 48 weekly flights connecting the city directly to 2 domestic and 8 international destinations.
