IATA Acknowledges Progress in the 25by2025 Program

The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) 25by2025 program, which aims to promote women’s participation in the industry, made progress during its six years of implementation, although that progress was not uniform.

“These positions have improved, but they have not undergone a transformation. To get the full picture, we must honestly acknowledge both realities,” IATA noted in its report.

In this context, the flight crew achieved a 6.6% representation of women by 2025, while in technical roles, representation rose from 18% in 2021 to 20.8% in 2025. In leadership positions, representation rose from 29.3% to 31.3%, and IATA highlighted that the proportion of women among its member airlines’ CEOs increased from 3% in 2019 to nearly 9% in 2026.

It has been noted that this progress is “one of the clearest indicators of the shift in direction within the sector.”

“Although IATA’s membership grew from about 280 airlines to more than 360 during that period, the number of women leading companies as CEOs rose from 8 to 33,” the Association stated.

In a report, IATA detailed the actions taken to address the issue of inclusion within its ranks, while also acknowledging that the company harbored deeply entrenched stereotypes regarding gender and suitability for certain positions—factors that influenced talent-related decisions.

In response, a scholarship program was created in partnership with the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) for women in aeronautics, which gives greater visibility to the women working at the company.

The analysis noted that, as a result of these actions, women came to occupy senior and strategic positions that were previously held by men, such as leadership roles in operations, sales, and financial control.

Although the “25 by 2025” initiative has come to an end, the goal was to link the progress made through this initiative to the next one, called the IATA People Forum, which aims to continue the legacy achieved through a broader agenda focused on people, talent, and the future of work.