TAAG Angola Airlines Marks African Women’s Day with Historic All-Female Flight Crew

By Iyojo Ameh

In a powerful display of gender equality and empowerment, TAAG Angola Airlines celebrated this year’s African Women’s Day by launching a landmark flight manned entirely by an all-female crew. The special flight, which operated on the Luanda–Johannesburg–Luanda route last Sunday, was staffed by 13 highly qualified women professionals from across the aviation spectrum — including pilots, flight attendants, and ground operations.

The initiative forms part of TAAG’s broader corporate commitment to diversity, inclusion, and meritocracy, and serves as a beacon of encouragement for African women aspiring to excel in traditionally male-dominated fields such as civil aviation.

“This historic flight is more than a symbolic gesture; it’s a demonstration of our commitment to breaking barriers and creating a working environment that supports equity, innovation, and career advancement for all,” the airline said in a statement released in Luanda.

With a workforce of around 2,600 employees, TAAG currently has a gender distribution of 69% men to 31% women. Despite this imbalance, women continue to rise through the ranks. Notably, 50% of the company’s Executive Committee is composed of women, including the directors for Finance, Human Resources & Legal Affairs, and Procurement — a significant stride in leadership representation within the African aviation industry.

The airline’s CEO, Nelson Rodrigues de Oliveira, emphasized that the event falls under TAAG’s “People and Community” strategic focus, which prioritizes staff development and social responsibility.

“This flight represents what we stand for: celebrating excellence regardless of gender and empowering women to take on leadership and operational roles across all levels of aviation,” he said.

African Women’s Day, celebrated annually on July 31, commemorates the first Pan-African Women’s Conference held in Tanzania in 1962, where women leaders from across the continent came together to demand greater rights and participation in national development. The day serves as a platform to reflect on the achievements of African women while amplifying ongoing challenges in gender parity.

Globally, women remain significantly underrepresented in aviation. According to the International Society of Women Airline Pilots (ISA+21), only about 5% of airline pilots worldwide are female. TAAG’s initiative thus sends a bold message — not just across Africa but around the world — that change is not only possible, but underway.

TAAG Angola Airlines invites the public and partners to learn more about its programs promoting diversity and inclusion by visiting www.taag.com.