In his closing remarks, ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar underscored the importance of action. “The future of aviation depends on whether we succeed in unlocking the full potential of the people who will shape it,” he said. “Women are not simply part of aviation’s future. They are essential to it.”
Summit discussions highlighted that expanding opportunities for women is one of the most effective ways to strengthen aviation’s talent pipeline and support the industry’s long-term sustainability and growth.
Hosted in Luanda, Angola, by the Government of Angola with support from UN Women and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Summit brought together more than 950 participants. It served as a global platform to exchange experiences, deepen collaboration, and advance concrete actions toward a more inclusive and resilient aviation workforce.
Despite ongoing progress, women remain significantly underrepresented in many aviation professions worldwide. ICAO data shows that women represent 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 emphasized the need to improve the collection and use of sex-disaggregated data to better inform policy, strengthen accountability, track progress, and enable evidence-based decision-making. The Summit also explored ways to expand access to education, training, mentorship, and leadership development, particularly in technical, operational, and senior decision-making roles where women continue to be underrepresented.
As part of its broader efforts to support Member States and industry stakeholders, ICAO showcased several initiatives aimed at accelerating progress. These included its Global Network of Gender Focal Points, now comprising representatives from 105 Member States, the forthcoming Mainstreaming Women’s Participation and Advancement Toolkit, the continued expansion of gender-disaggregated aviation data, and the Landmark Global Study on Women in Aviation covering more than 140 countries.
On the sidelines of the Summit, Secretary General Salazar met with the President of Angola, His Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, as well as ICAO Global Ambassadors and Champions participating in the event. He also met with more than 90 girls involved in the Pink Hard Hat Challenge organized by UNESCO.
The Summit ultimately reinforced a clear global consensus: advancing women’s participation and empowerment in aviation is both a strategic imperative and a powerful driver of a more sustainable, inclusive, and forward-looking industry.
