Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline in Africa, and one of the fastest-growing airline brands in the world, marked the 2025 International Women’s Day on Saturday, 8 March, by flight operations entirely managed by women, from catering, maintenance, and check-in to lounge services. 

These all-women-operated flights departed from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar, Athens, Delhi, Dubai, Windhoek and Sao Polo, showcasing a significant milestone in Ethiopian Airlines’ ongoing efforts to elevate the presence and participation of women in the aviation industry. 

“We are thrilled to celebrate 8 March, as we do every year at Ethiopian Airlines. As an employer of choice, we are deeply committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within the aviation industry and the broader community. 

In today’s modern aviation landscape, women play an indispensable role across all sectors, significantly contributing to the industry’s dynamic growth. Today, we honour the remarkable achievements of women in aviation and beyond, while also inspiring future generations to pursue their dreams without limitations,” said Ethiopian Airlines CEO Mesfin Tasew. Women currently make up around 40% of Ethiopian Airlines’ workforce across a range of business divisions, including cockpit crew, cabin crew, aircraft technicians, commercial, managerial roles and others, significantly contributing their share to the development and overall achievements of the airline. 

In addition to celebrating the incredible achievements of women breaking stereotypes in traditionally male-dominated fields, Ethiopian Airlines’ all-women-operated flight programme, long a hallmark of the airline, aligns with the global call for gender equality. It underscores the vital need for support and recognition of female leaders in aviation and other sectors.