WTM 2022: Flexible solutions needed to retain female aviation staff, bosses urge

That was the warning from a trio of female airline chiefs at WTM London this week.

Bosses of Aer Lingus, Tui Airlines and Wizz Air UK agreed good progress had been made to increase gender diversity among pilots and in senior management roles, but insisted there is still a long way to go.

Tui Airlines chief operating officer Dawn Wilson said the airline had been successful in recruiting more female pilots, but not necessarily in retaining them.

“A lot of female pilots are coming through, but they seem to be dropping out at a certain level… which I imagine is to do with the working environment and the flexibility that’s needed [for pilots who become parents],” she explained.

Offering more opportunity to fly or be a trainer part-time could be part of the solution, she suggested. 

Marion Geoffroy, managing director of Wizz Air UK, described a programme in which Wizz is funding pilot training for existing members of cabin crew, who can continue working during their training. She said the group is also looking to offer pilots positions that combine office duties with flying duties, to better support work-life balance. But she stressed that more must be done to introduce the opportunities of a career in aviation when girls are much younger.

“Aviation still is not necessarily a natural thought for many young girls, so there is much we can do in the longer-term [to encourage] girls,” she pointed out.