Why have one when you can have 50 all female operated flights?

Qantas and Jetstar are showcasing the wide-ranging talents of their female workforce, with 50 all-female-operated flights.

Qantas is operating not one but 50 all-female-operated flights to mark International Women’s Day, beginning on Monday and continuing until March 8.

More than 250 female pilots, engineers, cabin crew, airport and operations team members will work on the Qantas and Jetstar flights crisscrossing Australia, Asia and New Zealand.

A Jetstar service from Adelaide to Sydney will get the ball rolling on Monday morning, followed by QantasLink flights between Canberra, Brisbane and Bundaberg.

The show of female force is intended to promote aviation as an attractive career for women, in an effort to address the significant gender imbalance particularly among flight crew and engineers.

Only 7.5 per cent of Qantas pilots are women, and just 4.3 per cent of the airline’s engineers, both of which are above the global industry average of 4 and 3 per cent respectively.

On the other hand over 70 per cent of cabin crew are female, and 77 per cent of airport staff.

The figures are expected to lift in the years ahead after increases in the female intake at the Qantas Group Engineering Academy and pilot training centre.

Chief people officer Catherine Walsh said progress was being made but change would not happen overnight.

“It starts in our schools,” said Ms Walsh.

“We’re expanding our school outreach to promote aviation as a career, to encourage girls to dream big when it comes to their future profession and follow their interests in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths).”

Qantas and Jetstar are showing off the wide-ranging capabilities of their women workers, with 50 all-female flights from March 3 in the lead up to International Women’s Day.

She hopes the blaze of publicity about the all-female flights will encourage girls to think about a career many may not have previously contemplated.

“Our hope is that young girls will see these incredible women thriving in a technical career to give them the confidence to explore a role that will see them in a hangar, in the flight deck or running this airline in the future,” Ms Walsh said.

For the past 18 months, Australia’s biggest airlines have all had a woman at their helm, including Vanessa Hudson at Qantas, Jetstar CEO Steph Tully and Virgin Australia chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka.

Worldwide it’s estimated only 24 airlines out of 340 are led by women.

Qantas 787 pilot Brigitte Howe said she was proud to stand among her female colleagues to recognise how far the aviation industry had come, and the incredible career paths available to women.

“It’s exciting to see incredible talent across Qantas and Jetstar come together in force so more flights than ever before can soar in recognition of International Women’s Day,” said Ms Howe.

“These flights are in recognition of all the women who paved the path for the next generation and are ensuring today’s teams can thrive in a more diverse workplace.”

Jetstar senior manager of flying operations Lizzie Archibald said the all-female crews underlined the exceptional talent and leadership women brought to the aviation industry.

“Today’s flights are such an important moment to showcase to young girls and women all the different career paths aviation can offer, including pilots and engineers,” said Captain Archibald.

“Jetstar is proud to have women in leadership positions across the airline, inspiring the next generation of female ­leaders.”

Qantas shares closed up 1.4 per cent to $9.52 on Friday.