Australia’s first ‘fem-flight’ to celebrate women in aviation

For the first time in Australia, a commercial airline flight will operate with an all-female workforce from takeoff to touch down.

Melbourne Airport Airfield Safety and Operations Coordinator Fiona Fernandes, Virgin Australia pilot Tracey Haynes, Melbourne Airport Communications Officer (Aviation) Marina Kostova are among the all-women team operating a Melbourne-Brisbane flight on international women's day. Picture: Fiona Hamilton

For the first time in Australia’s aviation history, a commercial airline flight will operate with an all-female workforce on Wednesday to highlight the fact that in 2023, there is no area of aviation off limits to women.

From the refuellers, baggage handlers and engineers, to the air traffic controllers, pilots and cabin crew, more than 20 roles involved in getting the flight safely from Melbourne to Brisbane will be performed by women in celebration of International Women’s Day.

Melbourne Airport chief executive Lorie Argus said the idea to have women handle every touchpoint of the flight was inspired by some recent appointments to the airfield team.

“It started with a local concept of ‘let’s see if we can do a full female team at our airport’ which turned into a collaboration with Virgin Australia and then ultimately Airservices and Brisbane Airport,” Ms Argus said.

“I’ve just been blown away that we’ve been able to line it up with respect to every role being performed by women.”

She said Melbourne Airport was actively increasing the diversity of its workforce through initiatives such as “blind CVs” whereby names were removed from job applications so there was no risk of unconscious bias.

“It’s about finding the right person for the job and it shouldn’t be gender specific but at the same time we try to have as many systems and processes set up to open the funnel,” said Ms Argus.

“We’ve made a commitment around a gender target of 40-40-20, so by 2025 we’ll have 40 per cent men, 40 per cent women and 20 per cent fluid.”

As one of the few women running major airports in the world, Ms Argus said she was proud of her achievements, which she attributed to getting involved, learning the industry and always putting her hand up for every opportunity.

“That’s a motto I’ve always lived by,” she said.

“As a CEO I hire for attitude, enthusiasm and interest. I think the technical competency can always be taught.”

Brisbane Airport’s executive general manager of human resources, Jane Dionysius, shared Ms Argus’s excitement about the IWD flight and the message it sent to women.

“There isn’t a single role across aviation that women can’t do and today’s flight proves that,” Ms Dionysius said. “I look forward to the day when this isn’t extraordinary – it’s the every day.”

To that end, she wanted to see the industry target girls from an early age, to let them know aviation was “a cool, exciting and diverse industry”.

“This is an industry in which they can thrive and trail blaze,” said Ms Dionysius.

Virgin Australia chief people officer Lisa Burquest was delighted to be involved in the landmark flight, as the airline sought to lift the number of women in “under represented roles” by 25 per cent by 2025.

“Our organisation should be representative of the community. I think it’s the right thing to do and it makes you a much better organisation,” said Ms Burquest.

“We often talk about bringing your authentic self to work and we call our people our ‘secret source’.”

Flight VA313 is scheduled to takeoff from Melbourne at 8am and land in Brisbane at 9.20am on Wednesday.