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Which airline brings gender equality to the skies?

Just in time for International Women's Day 8 March – which applauds economic and social achievements of women, we celebrate Hawaiian Airlines where 9% of pilots are female.

Just in time for International Women’s Day 8 March – which applauds economic and social achievements of women, we celebrate Hawaiian Airlines where 9% of pilots are female.

In 1979, Hawaiian Airlines was the first airline to have an all-female flight crew operate a certified U.S. flight.  Now in its 86th year of service, Hawaiian Airlines is Hawai‘i’s biggest and longest-serving airline.

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1979: First Officer Sherrie Emminger (Left) and Captain Karen Squires (right) checking in for their flight.

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A330 Captain Stacy Brandon. Photo credit: Willy Branlund

Ken Rewick, Hawaiian Airline Vice President of Flight Operations commented:

“Hawaiian Airlines was an industry pioneer in hiring female pilots, and became the first FAR Part 121 Air Carrier to employ an all-female flight crew in 1979. We have always been a very desirable employment opportunity for all pilot prospects, which has consistently included an applicant pool of many highly-qualified women. We are pleased to continue to be a leader in this important aspect of aviation.”

Ken Rewick, Hawaiian Airline Vice President of Flight Operations

When it comes to gender disparity, the world of commercial airline piloting is one of the most skewed with a whopping 97% of all commercial pilots being male (4000 female commercial pilots vs. 130,000 male worldwide according to The International  Society of Women Airline Pilots). 

However, times are changing. Qantas hired its first female pilot in 1984 and saw its first female captain in 1992. At that time there were only 18 female pilots out of 900 (2%). Fast forward to statistics Feb 2014: Qantas has 3784 pilots, of whom only 4.5 per cent are female. At Virgin, 4.9 per cent of the 1599 pilots are women, and at Tigerair, women account for 7.7 per cent of the 155 pilots.  

Do you think the sky needs more female pilots?