Africa’s largest aviation group, Ethiopian Airlines, has celebrated the 2026 edition of International Women’s Day with a remarkable aviation initiative, operating eight special flights fully managed and operated by women to destinations across Africa, Europe and Asia.
The airline said the initiative underscores its strong commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment within the aviation industry while also commemorating its eight decades of service since its founding in 1946, reports Daily Independent.
The commemorative flights, which were operated entirely by female aviation professionals, connected Addis Ababa to several key destinations including Cairo, Djibouti, Nairobi, Frankfurt, Accra, Mumbai, Windhoek and Dire Dawa.
The celebration was officially launched during a colourful ceremony held on the evening of March 7, 2026, at the upscale Ethiopian Skylight Hotel. The event attracted government officials, senior executives of the airline, women leaders from different sectors, and female employees representing various departments within the airline as well as partner organisations.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Mesfin Tasew, highlighted the airline’s longstanding policy of inclusiveness and its deliberate efforts to increase women’s participation in aviation.
According to him, Ethiopian Airlines has consistently championed equal opportunities for women, ensuring they are well represented in operational, technical and leadership roles across the organisation.
“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 said.
He noted that the airline has prioritised capacity building and professional training programmes that enable women to excel in critical areas of aviation that have historically been dominated by men.
Through sustained investment in talent development and a supportive corporate culture, many women within the organisation have risen to occupy strategic roles including pilots, engineers, technicians, aviation managers and corporate executives.
Tasew further explained that the 2026 International Women’s Day celebration holds a deeper significance as it coincides with the airline’s 80th anniversary.
“This year’s celebration is especially unique as we are marking the day with eight all-women-functional flights highlighting our 80th anniversary,” he stated.
Currently, women make up approximately 40 per cent of the workforce of the Ethiopian Airlines Group. They serve in a wide range of departments including flight operations, aircraft maintenance, ground services, cargo operations, customer service, administration and corporate leadership.
The airline has maintained the tradition of operating all-women flights every year since 2015 as part of its International Women’s Day activities.
These special flights are handled entirely by female aviation professionals – from cockpit crew and cabin attendants to aircraft engineers, flight dispatchers, load controllers, ground handling teams and catering staff.
The symbolic number of eight flights in this year’s celebration represents the airline’s eight decades of continuous service since its establishment.
Ethiopian Airlines’ aviation journey began in 1946 with its first scheduled international flight to Cairo, Egypt – a route that remains one of the historic milestones in the airline’s development.
Over the years, Ethiopian Airlines has expanded its network significantly, evolving into one of the most influential carriers in the global aviation industry, connecting Africa with major cities across Europe, Asia, the Americas and the Middle East.
The airline’s commitment to gender inclusion has helped set a benchmark for other carriers across Africa and beyond.
