Women Hold 42% of Aviation Jobs but Lag in Senior Roles: IATA

Women accounted for 41.6% of the global aviation workforce in 2024, according to data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), underscoring gradual progress toward gender balance while highlighting persistent gaps in technical and flight deck roles. The figures were published as part of IATA’s “25by2025” initiative, launched in 2019 to improve female representation across the air transport sector.

The 41.6% share represents 417,360 women out of a total workforce of 1,003,128 employees reported by 142 signatories to the initiative. These signatories form part of a broader group of 216 organizations enrolled in “25by2025,” including airlines, airports, service providers, lessors, travel agencies and government bodies. IATA noted that the 2024 data set is broader than in previous years and should not be directly compared with 2023 results, when female representation stood at 41%.

“This report offers a snapshot of 2024 data; it is not limited to the smaller sample of signatories that reported in all survey years, but rather is based on data from 142 signatories that reported for 2024,” IATA said. “This ensures a more representative view of recent progress, even if the sample of participants varies from year to year.”

Among the 142 reporting organizations, 119 were airlines, employing a combined workforce of 871,935 people. Women represented 43% of airline employees, or 375,155 workers. Regional differences were evident. Asia-Pacific recorded the highest female participation at 48.1%, followed by North Asia at 44%, Europe at 39.1%, the Americas at 38%, and Africa and the Middle East at 34.4%.

Representation varied significantly by role. Women held 31.4% of senior management positions across all signatories in 2024, while technical roles stood at 23.3%. Within airlines specifically, women accounted for 31.3% of senior positions and 24.5% of technical roles. Flight deck positions remained the least diverse segment, with women representing just 6.2% of pilots globally. Europe posted the highest regional share of female pilots at 7%.

Across all participating organizations, Europe led in female representation in senior roles at 35.2%, while the Americas topped the technical roles category with 30%. These figures  highlight uneven progress across both regions and occupational categories, despite overall workforce gains.

The “25by2025” initiative aims to increase female representation by 25% or reach a minimum threshold of 25% across participating organizations by 2025. According to IATA, at least one-third of the 174 signatories that have consistently reported data since the program’s launch have already met both targets. An additional 31.1% reached the minimum participation goal, while 13.9% met only the growth objective.

In flight deck and technical roles, more than half of these consistently reporting signatories achieved at least one of the two targets, most often the 25% growth benchmark. IATA said this indicates measurable progress in areas traditionally dominated by men, even as overall representation remains low.

“Taken together, these results are encouraging, as many signatories had already achieved their ‘25by2025’ targets by the end of 2024,” IATA said in the report. “While progress is worth recognizing, the results also make clear that there are opportunities — and a need — to continue advancing and improving.”

For airlines and aviation service providers, the data reinforce the importance of sustained workforce strategies focused on the recruitment, retention and advancement of women, particularly in technical and pilot roles that remain critical to long-term capacity and resilience. As the 2025 deadline for “25by2025” approaches, IATA signaled that continued reporting and accountability will be central to maintaining momentum beyond headline participation rates and toward structural change across the industry.

The Mexican aviation industry faces a pressing need for greater gender diversity, particularly in  flight operations. In 2023, female pilots in Mexico made up just 1.67% of all pilots, according to the National Survey of Occupation and Employment (ENOE). Alhelí Cárdenas, vice president of the Honor and Justice Commission, Mexican Pilots’ College, said women represent only 2% of the industry’s workforce. Of the estimated 35,000 pilots in Mexico, only about 1,000 are women, with just 551 women aged 15–24 counted in the economically active population, according to ENOE.