ASKY Airlines Kenya has announced a transformative partnership with the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), aimed at increasing women’s participation in the aviation industry across the continent. The partnership was unveiled as part of ASKY’s 15th anniversary celebrations, marking the occasion with a legacy initiative that seeks to empower the next generation of female aviators, engineers, and industry leaders.
Despite significant growth in the global aviation industry, women remain drastically underrepresented, particularly in technical and leadership roles. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), women make up just 4.1% of pilots, less than 3% of aircraft maintenance engineers, and under 10% of airline executives in Africa.
“Through this partnership, we aim to change that narrative by addressing the structural and cultural barriers that limit women’s access to careers in aviation,” said a spokesperson for ASKY Airlines Kenya. “This is not just a corporate social responsibility effort — it’s an investment in the future of the industry.”
The ASKY–FAWE partnership focuses on five strategic objectives designed to foster gender inclusion and build capacity for women in aviation-related fields, particularly aeronautics:
- Promoting Gender Inclusion: The program will spotlight success stories of women in aviation while identifying and addressing the barriers they face, from gender bias to limited access to technical education.
- Mentorship Initiatives: Female students pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses in Sub-Saharan Africa will be connected with established professionals in aviation, opening doors to guidance, networks, and career pathways.
- Policy Advocacy: The partnership will facilitate dialogue with governments, industry regulators, and educational stakeholders to develop policies that create a more inclusive aviation ecosystem.
- Capacity Building: FAWE and ASKY will work closely with universities, aviation schools, and technical training institutions to support curriculum development and access for female learners.
- Industry Collaboration: By encouraging partnerships among airlines, aerospace manufacturers, and aviation institutions, the initiative seeks to create more internships, scholarships, and job placements for women.
This alliance is seen as a game-changer for aviation in Africa, offering an unprecedented platform to engage stakeholders across the education and aviation sectors in a unified push for gender parity.
FAWE Executive Director, Dr. Mary Goretti Nakabugo, emphasized the importance of the initiative: “For Africa to truly unlock its economic potential, we must ensure that women are fully included in high-growth sectors like aviation. This partnership with ASKY Airlines allows us to drive structural change through education, mentorship, and opportunity.”
As ASKY Airlines celebrates 15 years of excellence in connecting Africa, this initiative will serve as a cornerstone for the airline’s enduring impact, one that not only opens the skies to more African women but also redefines what inclusive growth in the aviation sector can look like.
The first phase of the program is expected to launch later this year, with pilot activities in Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, and Togo, key markets in ASKY’s pan-African network.
