ALL-FEMALE CREW FEEDS THE NEXT GENERATION AMBITION AT QANTAS AND JETSTAR | News
This week, more than 2,500 customers will fly on Jetstar and Qantas flights operated by all-female crews. On the occasion of International Women’s Day, both airlines are also organizing practical career days for more than a hundred students, showcasing the broad career opportunities in aviation. The focus is on helping the next generation chart their path from the classroom to the cockpit, hangar or operations center.
Across 10 of Qantas and Jetstar’s popular domestic routes, more than 50 women will crew the 22 flights, recognizing how far the industry has come, while showcasing the rewarding career paths aviation has to offer.
The series of flights concludes with nine flights departing on International Women’s Day, Sunday, March 8. The first, a Jetstar service from Melbourne to the Gold Coast, will depart in the morning, followed by a series of regional QantasLink services including Tamworth to Sydney, Coffs Harbor to Melbourne and Sydney to Wagga Wagga.
Locally, more than a hundred students will attend the Jetstar Career Immersion Day in Melbourne, in partnership with Melbourne University and RMIT, and the Qantas NextGen Aviators Career Day in Sydney. Nearly 100 pilots, engineers, operations specialists and aviation leaders will give lectures, workshops and interactive career sessions.
QantasLink Captain Tomoko Sakurai Dahlstrom will speak at Qantas’ NextGen Aviators Career Day and has flown several International Women’s Day flights this week.
“In the skies, our International Women’s Day flights not only celebrate those who paved the way for us to fly today, but show the crews of tomorrow what is possible.
“I am proud to speak to students at our career day and share what it is like to work in aviation today alongside supportive, thriving and talented women. It is our hope to one day see as many students as possible in a hangar, cockpit or cabin at our career days.”
Jetstar Eastern Regional Flying Manager Captain Narelle Coooper said the flights showcase the talent of the airline’s workforce.
“These flights are an opportunity to put some of our best people at the forefront. When young women and girls see women leading in the cockpit, in the operations center and on the ground, it sends a powerful message: These careers are for you, too.”
Group Chief People Officer Catherine Walsh said: “We recognize that there is still work to be done in the aviation industry. We aim to drive long-term change by improving gender representation in our teams today, while strengthening a diverse talent pipeline for tomorrow. A more balanced workforce makes us a better airline, and we are committed to creating a future where everyone can see themselves working, growing and prospering in this dynamic and rewarding industry.”
Qantas Group gender equality initiatives
The Qantas Group continues its work to improve gender balance. While progress is being made, there is still more to be done. Some important initiatives are:
Qantas Group’s Women in Leadership Program offers women the opportunity to progress into senior roles through workshops, coaching and networking. Women now make up 40.7 percent of senior positions within the Qantas Group. Qantas’s board is 50 percent female and its senior executive team consists of seven women and five men.
The Female Pilot Council focuses on improving the experience of female pilots during key life stages, including professional development during pregnancy and support for returning to work after parental leave.
Advocacy for gender inclusion through key relationships with Champions of Change (as a founding member), IATA, Chief Executive Women, Parents at Work and the National Association of Women in Operations.
