Ethiopian Airlines is marking International Women’s Day by operating an all-women flight from Addis Ababa to Oslo.
The airline announced this in a tweet with a reference to the Beatles’ song Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds: “The Lucys are about to control the skies for the 5th time, flying to Oslo on this March 8.”
The flight will be operated by female professionals in the sky as well as on the ground, the airline posted on Facebook.
This means airport operations, flight dispatch, load control, ramp operation; on-board logistics, safety and security, catering as well as air-traffic control are to be carried out entirely by women.
Ethiopian Airlines Chief Executive Officer Tewolde GabreMariam explained that the initiative celebrates women on a continent where “gender inequality still persists”.
The national carrier said it hoped the flight will help ‘show the power of women to the world’
“We are immensely honoured that we have women trailblazers in every aspect of our aviation field,” he said.
“Women are an integral part of our success story from the start, and with this dedicated flight we honour and celebrate their indispensable contribution to our aviation group and the broader aviation industry, our country and the continent at large.”
This isn’t a first for Africa’s largest airline. It has previously operated all-women crew flights to Bangkok, Kigali, Lagos and Buenos Aires.
Ethiopian Airlines is keen to showcase women’s longer-term contribution to the industry and the progress they’ve made in conquering male-dominated professions, like those of pilot and aircraft technician.
Dr Saba Fikru, the head of the airline’s medical and health services, says that 35% of the company’s 16,000-strong workforce is female.
“These days, an increasing number of women are completing their pilot training successfully. Now we can hear a female voice coming from the flight deck or the cockpit,” she says.
