New Delhi, India: Indian carriers IndiGo and Air India have reported significantly higher representation of women pilots compared with the global aviation industry, highlighting India’s growing role in improving gender diversity in the cockpit.
According to data shared by the airlines ahead of International Women’s Day, women account for 17.5% of the total pilot workforce at IndiGo and about 16% at Air India, figures that are roughly three times the global average for female airline pilots.
IndiGo said it now employs more than 1,000 women pilots, the airline added that women make up over 45% of its overall workforce, reflecting a broader push toward diversity across operational and leadership roles.
“At IndiGo, women pilots represent 17.5 per cent of the total pilot workforce, which is more than thrice the global average,” the airline said in a statement.
Beyond the cockpit, the airline reported growing participation of women across several departments. Women account for more than 30% of airport operations staff, nearly 25% of employees in its operations control centre, over 20% in finance, and more than 15% in digital roles. Women also hold over 23% of leadership positions within the company.
Air India also reported a strong presence of women in its flight deck ranks. The carrier said women pilots make up about 16% of its pilot workforce, again about three times the global average.
The airline added that women continue to dominate its cabin crew segment, accounting for about 84% of the workforce in that category. Representation of women has also increased in other operational roles, with airport operations rising from 24% to 31% in the past two years, while women in security roles increased from 14% to 22% during the same period.
Air India said it continues to invest in initiatives aimed at encouraging more women to pursue careers across aviation functions and leadership roles as the sector expands.
The figures from the two airlines are among the highest globally and underline the increasing participation of women in India’s fast-growing aviation industry, which has historically been male-dominated.
