Improving gender equality in India’s aviation workforce

In June 2024, India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), issued an advisory circular that adressed the need for enhancing female representation in the civil aviation sector. The circular is applicable to all Indian operators engaged in air transport services and airport operators within the Indian territory. The circular provides important guidelines for formulating policies and practices for Gender Equality in the Civil Aviation and aims to increase the number of women in various positions by either 25% against the currently reported metrics or to a desirable representation of 25% by 2025.

The circular also re-iterates India’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals of United Nations, wherein Goal 5 emphasizes “Achieve gender parity and empower all women and girls” . It is also to be noted that in 2016, recognizing the importance of advancing gender equality in aviation, the ICAO 39th Session of the Assembly adopted Resolution A39-30 ICAO Gender Equality Programme promoting the participation of women in the global aviation sector which was  updated through Resolution A41-26 adopted by the 41st Session of the ICAO Assembly .

The Director Generals of Civil Aviation of APAC States/Administrations in recent DGCA Conferences have extensively discussed promoting equal opportunities in aviation for women resulting in various DGCA APAC Conference Action Items 58/1, 57/38 and 56/36. In 2017, the Secretary General established the ICAO Gender Equality Programme, with four main objectives for effective implementation:

• build capacity and enhance awareness for gender equality
• enhance gender representation
• increase accountability; and
• further engagement with external partners.

Gender equality in aviation is one of the themes that will be discussed at the Second Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation (APACMC/2) which is scheduled to be held in New Delhi, India, from 11 – 12 September 2024, with the expectation that some commitment to gender equality may be made in the forthcoming Asia Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Civil Aviation (Delhi Declaration).

At ICAO we know how important it is to reduce barriers and promote greater participation of women in aviation. Under the umbrella of our broad ranging strategy to accelerate progress, we are providing a 10% price reduction for women on all ICAO training courses throughout 2024. We know the value education and professional development opportunities bring when it comes to achieving our gender equality goals.