Ethiopian Airlines Celebrates International Women’s Day with Eight All-Women Operated Flights
Africa’s largest airline group, Ethiopian Airlines, has commemorated the 2026 International Women’s Day with a series of special flights operated entirely by female professionals, reinforcing its commitment to gender equality and celebrating more than eight decades of service in global aviation.
The airline marked the occasion by deploying all-women functioned flights to eight international and regional destinations, a symbolic gesture reflecting the carrier’s 80-year journey in the aviation industry.
The special flights were operated to Cairo, Djibouti, Nairobi, Frankfurt, Accra, Mumbai, Windhoek, and Dire Dawa. The celebration began with a grand ceremony held on the evening of March 7, 2026, at the prestigious Ethiopian Skylight Hotel.
The event drew an array of dignitaries including government officials, airline executives, female leaders from various sectors, and women employees representing different divisions of the airline and partner organisations.
Speaking at the event, Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Mesfin Tasew, reaffirmed the airline’s long-standing commitment to empowering women across all areas of its operations.
According to him, Ethiopian Airlines has continued to lead in advancing women’s participation within the aviation sector by providing equal opportunities in flight operations, corporate leadership, and technical positions.
“Ethiopian Airlines has consistently led the way in advancing women’s participation across all areas of its business, ensuring equal opportunities in flight operations, leadership, and corporate positions,” Tasew stated.
He further noted that the airline’s strong organisational culture, combined with continuous training and professional development programmes, has enabled many women to excel in roles that were traditionally dominated by men.
“Through our inclusive culture and strong commitment to training and professional development, we have empowered women to thrive in various roles including those traditionally dominated by men,” he added.
The 2026 celebration, Tasew explained, carries special significance as it coincides with the airline’s 80th anniversary in the aviation industry.
“This year’s celebration is especially unique as we are marking the day with eight all-women-functional flights highlighting our 80th anniversary,” he said.
Women currently account for approximately 40 per cent of the workforce across the Ethiopian Airlines Group, occupying key positions in flight operations, engineering, cabin services, customer relations, management, and other critical divisions of the organisation.
The airline’s initiative of operating all-women flights on International Women’s Day has become an annual tradition since 2015. Each of these special flights is handled entirely by female professionals, including pilots, cabin crew, engineers, technicians, dispatchers, load controllers, airport operations staff, and catering personnel.
The programme has gained global recognition for showcasing the capabilities of women in aviation while inspiring young girls across Africa and beyond to pursue careers in the industry.
The symbolic selection of eight destinations for this year’s flights reflects the airline’s remarkable eight decades of operations since its establishment in 1946.
The airline’s very first scheduled international service was operated to Cairo, marking the beginning of a journey that has transformed Ethiopian Airlines into a leading global aviation brand.
Over the years, Ethiopian Airlines has grown into a major aviation powerhouse, connecting Africa to numerous destinations across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East, while continuing to champion diversity, inclusion, and professional excellence.
