Aviation’s future depends on who we bring in and how we connect

Aviation is growing and its future will depend on whether we succeed in attracting, developing and retaining the people needed to make that growth possible.

A recent IATA article on diversity in aviation highlights an important reality: diversity is no longer simply a question of representation. It is a question of access to talent, organizational culture and the future capability of our industry.

IATA’s 25by2025 initiative, launched in 2019, demonstrated what coordinated action across the industry can achieve. With 217 participating organizations, female representation increased significantly in senior management, technical roles and on the flight deck. The proportion of women pilots rose from 4% to 6.7%, while female CEOs among IATA member airlines increased from 3% to 9%.

These numbers matter. But perhaps the more important lesson is what happened behind them: organizations started exchanging experience, comparing progress, learning from one another and creating a community around a shared challenge.

And the challenge ahead is substantial.

Aviation is expected to need around 1.5 million new professionals by 2034. We cannot meet that demand if we continue to recruit from only part of the available talent pool. Nor will numbers alone be enough. People need environments in which different perspectives are genuinely heard, contribution is encouraged and opportunities are accessible.

This is also why role models matter. Seeing people with different backgrounds, careers and experiences in positions we may not previously have imagined changes what feels possible. But role models should do more than inspire, they should open doors for those coming next.

At Elevate the Line, this strongly reflects what we believe.

Connecting aviation professionals across airlines, countries, generations and cultures allows us to learn from each other rather than repeatedly solving the same challenges inside our individual organizations. Sharing experience, creating visibility and giving people a voice can strengthen not only diversity, but the entire aviation community.

The future of aviation will not be created within organizational silos.

It will be created by people who are willing to connect, share and learn from one another.

And diversity is an essential part of making that future possible.

Inspired by IATA Airlines: “Diversity is essential to aviation’s future growth”, 23 August 2026.