- The airline conducted full female flights in five countries to celebrate International Women’s Day
- Over 5% of Wizz Air’s Flight Crew are women, approaching the top of industry average
- The company aims to reach 7% of female pilots by 2030
Wizz Air, Europe’s most environmentally sustainable airline[1], is recognising their female employees this International Women's Day, organising special all-female flights in five countries, including Romania, Italy, Poland, Hungary and the United Kingdom.
Wizz Air marked the day by operating these five flights with an entirely female crew (captain, first officer and 5 cabin attendants) from each base (Bucharest, Rome, Warsaw, Budapest, London) respectively. The all-female flights are an annual initiative, organized by Wizz Air since 2022, to increase awareness of gender diversity and opportunities in aviation. Wizz Air has also pledged to diversify its management teams, streamlining access to leadership positions for women.
Wizz Air is committed to enhance gender diversity across the aviation industry, continuing to increase the proportion of women across all function at the airline. The percentage of Wizz Air’s female pilots continues to rise steadily, increasing from 3.1% in 2014 to 5.4% in 2024, achieving top levels of the current global aviation ratio[2].
This progress is the result of targeted programs and initiatives aimed at attracting more women to the traditionally male-dominated aviation industry. Through initiatives like the “She Can Fly" program which provides attractive financial schemes for female cadets, the company aims to further increase female representation – with a goal of at least 7% by 2030. In addition to this programme, Wizz Air also runs the "Cabin Crew to Pilot" initiative, which was launched in 2022, and has already produced its first graduates, with 11% being women.
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Wizz Air is also supporting women in advancing to management and leadership positions. In corporate leadership, the representation of women has seen significant growth, and by 2026 the airline aims to increase the proportion of women in management to at least 40% – a milestone that is already within reach.
The airline is committed to further strengthening female leadership across the company. The share of women in top management (CEO, Heads of departments, Director or Chief Officer) has more than doubled in the past twenty years, rising from 14.3% in 2004 to 32.1% in 2024. At the same time, the share of women in all rest of roles office has increased from 20% in 2004 to 42.5% in 2024.
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Yvonne Moynihan, Corporate & ESG Officer at Wizz Air, states:
"We take pride in paving the way for gender diversity in aviation. On International Women’s Day, we are not only celebrating women’s achievements but also demonstrating real progress by organizing special all-female flights across five countries. Our core program dedicated to aspiring women pilots, “She Can Fly”, was launched just two years ago, but has already made a significant impact. In 2024, the number of enrolled female cadets tripled compared to the first year of the program, and in July this year, the first class of “She Can Fly” cadets — representing Hungary, Serbia, Romania, and Poland—will graduate, marking the beginning of their careers as future pilots. We believe women need more opportunities to transform their lives and careers, and we are proud to create them together."
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Wizz Air remains committed to not only promoting diversity and equality but also embedding them into its corporate strategy, ensuring a sustainable and inclusive future for the aviation industry.
In the coming years, Wizz Air will focus on increasing female participation in traditionally male-dominated fields, particularly in technical professions such as aircraft maintenance and engineering. Through targeted training and mentorship programs, the company aims to break down barriers and attract more women to these careers.
[1] According to CAPA – Centre for Aviation Awards for Excellence 2024.
[2] According to CAPA, the proportion of women pilots flying with airlines in the UK, and in the US, is still only around 5%. Globally, this share is in the region of 4% to 6%.
