ICAO Global Aviation Gender Summit advances action to strengthen women's empowerment in aviation

ICAO Global Aviation Gender Summit advances action to strengthen women's empowerment in aviation

Advancing women’s empowerment in aviation is both a strategic imperative and a catalyst for a more innovative, sustainable and future-ready global aviation sector. This was the shared message emerging from the ICAO Global Aviation Gender Summit 2026, where governments, industry, international organizations, and academia identified practical actions to strengthen the participation, retention and leadership of women across the global aviation workforce.

“The future of aviation depends on whether we succeed in unlocking the full potential of the people who will shape it.” said ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar in his closing remarks. “Women are not simply part of aviation’s future. They are essential to it.”

Discussions at the Summit addressed the need to expand opportunities for women as one of the most effective ways to strengthen aviation's talent pipeline and support the sector's long-term sustainability and growth.

Hosted in Luanda, Angola, by the Government of Angola with the support of UN Women and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Summit drew over 950 participants and provided a platform for stakeholders to share experiences, strengthen partnerships and identify concrete actions to help build a more inclusive, resilient and future-ready aviation workforce

While progress is being made, women remain underrepresented across many aviation professions worldwide. ICAO's global data indicates that women account for approximately 4 per cent of pilots, 3 per cent of aircraft maintenance engineers and technicians, and 20.6 per cent of air traffic controllers globally.

Participants also underscored the importance of improving the collection and use of sex-disaggregated data to better inform policies, strengthen accountability, measure progress and support evidence-based decision-making. They further explored ways to improve access to education, training, mentorship and leadership development, particularly in technical, operational and senior decision-making roles where women remain underrepresented.

As part of its ongoing efforts to support Member States and industry, ICAO showcased several initiatives designed to accelerate progress, including its Global Network of Gender Focal Points, which now includes representatives from 105 Member States, the forthcoming Mainstreaming Women's Participation and Advancement Toolkit, continued expansion of gender-disaggregated aviation data, and the Landmark Global Study on Women in Aviation spanning more than 140 countries.

On the sidelines of the Summit, ICAO Secretary General Salazar met with the President of Angola, His Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, as well as with ICAO Global Ambassadors and Champions participating in the Summit. He also engaged with more than 90 girls taking part in the Pink Hard Hat Challenge, organized by UNESCO.

The Summit reinforced a shared message that advancing women's participation and empowerment in aviation is both a strategic imperative and a catalyst for a more innovative, sustainable and future-ready global aviation sector.

24 July 2026