NEWS HIGHLIGHTS:
Currently, the airline has over 5,900 women on its team, with 70% occupying operational positions. This includes over 130 female pilots, more than 90 maintenance technicians, and 1,700 cabin crew members, among other roles.
Among its most recent initiatives, the airline announced the graduation of the first generation of female pilots, along with a call for applications with the launch of the female pilot scholarship program, “The Sky Is Theirs,” which closed registrations on Feb. 9 with over 1,200 applicants.
MIAMI, March 8, 2024 – Avianca Airlines announced that more than 40% of its team is comprised of women with over 400 team leaders, including seven vice presidents, 28 directors, 170 managers, and more than 200 coordinators. This represents 48% of leadership roles within the company, spanning both administrative and operational domains. Thus, the airline continues to demonstrate its commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within the aviation industry.
Out of the total of 5,900 women on its team, 70% hold operational positions, including over 130 female pilots, more than 90 maintenance technicians, and over 1,700 cabin crew members, among other roles. The remaining 30% work in administrative areas, such as finance or law.
On the other hand, as one of its initiatives to increase female participation in the industry, the airline announced the graduation of the first exclusive generation of female pilots, composed of 12 graduates who are currently employed by the company. This announcement was accompanied by the launch of the “The Sky Is Theirs” program, which aims to provide educational opportunities for women interested in the aviation industry. The program offers 20 scholarships, providing 100% financing for commercial pilot training at five of the best aviation schools in Colombia. Through these efforts, the company aims to establish a deeper presence in the regions and communities where it operates, contributing to their social and economic development.
“We firmly believe that airlines must be leaders in diversity and equity, especially given that we serve as the window helping open and broaden our view of the world—its destinations, cultures, religions, gastronomy, opinions, and visions,” said Paola Villota, vice president of Human Resources at Avianca. “Moreover, we recognize the importance of diversity in talent, gender, race, disability, and growth opportunities.”
At Avianca, we embrace diversity as part of our DNA and celebrate it daily, both within and outside the company,” Villota continued. “With our employees, we are committed to fostering a fairer environment with equal opportunities for all. Above all, we understand that, as leaders, one of the most powerful tools to promote diversity and equity is the example we set for our teams by internalizing and adopting inclusive behaviors.”
About Avianca Group
Avianca is a company that comprises Avianca- a Star Alliance member- LifeMiles, and Avianca Cargo. In passenger transportation, Avianca is the leading airline in Colombia, Ecuador, and Central America, with over 104 years of continuous operation since 1919. It has one of the largest air operations in Latin America with 147 routes, nearly 710 daily flights, and a fleet of 140 Airbus 320 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, connecting over 75 destinations in 25 countries in the Americas and Europe. In 2023, Avianca transported over 32.3 million customers through the operation of more than 213,000 flights. Its loyalty program, LifeMiles, is one of the largest in Latin America with over 12.4 million members and 500 partner brands. In cargo transportation, Avianca Cargo is a regional leader and the main operator in various markets in the Americas. With its affiliate airline, Aerounion, it serves over 50 destinations with a fleet of 9 cargo aircraft, in addition to cargo operations in passenger aircraft bellies. More information can be found at www.avianca.com.
