Share Of Women Pilots In India Remains Stagnant At 15%, No Improvement Since 2021

Despite ongoing efforts to encourage gender diversity in aviation, the percentage of women pilots in India has remained stagnant at 15%, according to recent data from the Ministry of Civil Aviation. This figure mirrors the data from 2021, indicating no significant improvement or increase in the number of female pilots over the past three years.

As of now, women pilots make up around 15% of the total pilot workforce across major Indian airlines, a figure that is still notably higher than the global average of just 5%. The latest statistics show that airlines such as IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet employ a combined total of 1,767 women pilots out of 11,775 pilots in total. The ministry revealed this data in response to a question in the Lok Sabha.

Airlines like IndiGo and Air India, which are the largest employers of pilots in the country, report that women pilots make up around 15% of their workforce. The numbers remain relatively consistent across other major operators like SpiceJet and Air India Express.

In a PIB release which dates back to 2021, the ministry of civil aviation had disclosed that out of the 17,726 registered pilots in India, the number of women pilots is 2,764.

Come 2024, another PIB release from civil aviation ministry stated that, in 2023, a total of 294 Commercial Pilot Licenses were issued to women, making up 18% of the total CPLs granted during the year. This marks a significant increase of 22% in the number of CPLs issued to women, compared to 2022.

But, this has somehow failed to materialise in the final employment numbers, which still show women's share standing stagnant at 15%.

As of the latest data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, IndiGo employs 791 women pilots out of 5,174 total pilots, accounting for 15.28%. Air India follows closely with 541 women pilots out of 3,462 total pilots, representing 15.62%. Alliance Air has 25 women pilots out of 144, making up 17.36%, while SpiceJet employs 61 women pilots out of 372 pilots, at 16.39%. Other carriers like SNV Aviation and Air India Express have 119 and 230 women pilots, respectively.