To celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) today, Virgin Australia’s VA313 Melbourne–Brisbane service will be the first commercial flight to be dispatched, operated and handled from ground to sky entirely by women.
More than 20 women in 10 different roles will operate and manage the all-female Virgin Australia VA313 flight from take-off in Melbourne at 8:10am to touchdown at 9:20am in Brisbane.
The operational flight plan will be constructed and issued by a female Flight Dispatcher and all weight and balance activities will be performed by a female Load Controller in the airline’s Integrated Operations Centre.
VA313 will also be crewed by an all-female team in the flight deck and cabin, managed by an all-female pit crew team in both ports, and supported by female airport safety officers and air traffic controllers.
The landmark initiative took flight in a collaboration between Virgin Australia, Melbourne Airport, Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) and Airservices Australia.
BAC Executive General Manager Human Resources Jane Dionysius said she was looking forward to the day an all-women flight was no longer news.
“There isn’t a single role across aviation that women can’t do and today’s flight proves that. I look forward to a time when seeing women across aviation isn’t extraordinary, it’s the everyday,” she said.
“International Women’s Day 2023 is about ‘Cracking the Code’. Initiatives like today where the industry works together to provide young women with a powerful visual reminder, the sky is not the limit.”
VA Chief People Officer Lisa Burquest said the initiative highlighted how far aviation has come in terms of gender diversity and showcased the opportunities available to women interested in pursuing a career in the industry.
“Behind every aircraft in the sky, there is a highly skilled team working together to ensure passengers get to their destinations safely and for this flight, every one of these roles is carried out by women.”
Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said she hoped the flight would inspire more women to work in aviation.
“As the first female CEO at Melbourne Airport, I’m determined to highlight that women can forge meaningful and rewarding careers in aviation,” Ms Argus said.
For more info, head to careers.virginaustralia.com
