Beti Ki Udaan, Desh Ka Swabhimaan
Gurugram (Haryana) [India]: In its mission to inspire young girls and give wings to their dreams, the iconic Girls in Aviation Day (GIAD) 2024 was celebrated at Vidya School, Gurugram, organized by the Women in Aviation India team. The event saw enthusiastic participation from the school’s girl students, with the primary aim of introducing them to the wide range of career opportunities available in the aviation industry. A team from Women in Aviation India led the event, offering the students a glimpse into the world of aviation and hospitality.
Mrs. Meenakshi Lekhi, Former Union Minister of External Affairs & Culture, Government of India, delivered an inspiring video message, motivating the girls. She applauded the initiative, saying, “It’s truly inspiring to see how governments, businesses, and NGOs are working together to empower women and help turn their dreams into reality. This collaboration has opened doors for women to break barriers, even in traditionally male-dominated industries like aviation. In fact, women now make up 15% of India’s aviation workforce—three times the global average—showcasing the remarkable progress being made. Women in Aviation India is playing a pivotal role in creating opportunities for women in this dynamic sector.”
The event featured a distinguished lineup of speakers from the aviation industry, including Capt. Archana Kapoor, Member of Women in Aviation India & Line Captain B-787, Vistara Airlines; Capt. Poonam Gaur, Member of Women in Aviation India and Co-founder of Air Taxi; Ms. Kashish, Member of Women in Aviation India and Flight Operations Quality Executive, TATA SIA Airlines Pvt Ltd; Ms. Yamini Malhotra, Cluster Director of Human Resources, Roseate Hotels & Resorts; Ms. Harmeet Kaur Juneja, Head of Passenger Services, Bird Flight Services; and Mr. Ansh Kakkar from Yes Bank.
Mrs. Radha Bhatia, President of Women in Aviation India, encouraged the girls to dream big and shared uplifting words on how they can make a difference in the aviation industry. She remarked, “Our incredible lineup of speakers inspired the young schoolgirls, showing them that no dream is too big or impossible. These women, representing various sectors of aviation, highlighted the vast opportunities beyond being a cabin crew or pilot. From cargo management and aeronautical engineering to air traffic control, they encouraged the girls to dream big and pursue diverse careers in aviation. This aligns with the mission of Women in Aviation India and the core objective of GIAD.”
The students were given Women in Aviation (WAI) merchandise, including a booklet featuring a list of career roles in aviation and hospitality. The girls were highly engaged and participated in meaningful discussions about the opportunities in these fields.
Women in Aviation India was founded nine years ago by a group of fifteen dynamic women determined to shape the future of women in India’s aviation industry, which has traditionally been male-dominated. The dedicated members of WAI began working at the grassroots level, mentoring, guiding, and training young girls, particularly those aged 14 to 17, when dreams and ambitions are just starting to take flight. Over the years, WAI has impacted more than 30,000 girls directly and countless more indirectly, through collaborations with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, state governments, airports, airlines, and other stakeholders in the Indian aviation sector.
As part of its efforts to increase awareness, Women in Aviation India has organized the iconic Girls in Aviation Day (GIAD) annually for the past eight years in various states across India. The event particularly focuses on reaching out to girls from underprivileged backgrounds, often in remote areas, and is held at schools, colleges, or airports to give students an inside look at the aviation ecosystem. Many of these students have never had the opportunity to visit an airport before. Senior representatives from the aviation industry meet and interact with the students during these events.
The 9th edition of Girls in Aviation Day 2024 kicked off with a grand celebration at the General Aviation Terminal, IGI Airport, Terminal 3, New Delhi, followed by events at Kheria Airport in Agra, Chandigarh, Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala, and Srinagar. More events are scheduled in cities such as Ladakh, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Mumbai in the coming weeks.
About Women in Aviation India
Founded in 2015 in New Delhi, Women in Aviation (WAI) India is a non-profit organization committed to encouraging and advancing women in pursuing challenging and fulfilling careers in aviation and aerospace industries. The India Chapter, supported by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, is a group of accomplished women from various fields of aviation who are passionate about giving back to the next generation. Aligned with the policies and vision of the Prime Minister of India, WAI aims to build a strong foundation for women by providing networking, mentoring, and scholarship opportunities, with the clear goal of encouraging them to make aviation their career of choice.
For more information, please visit: www.indianwomenforaviation.in
