Malawi to operate an all-women flight
Malawian Airlines is set to make aviation history this month when it plans to fly an all-women operated and supported flight from Blantyre to Dar-es-salaam.
The flight is scheduled for March 16 with a stop-over in Lilongwe. The event is to be a milestone for the airline as it will be the first time in the history of the company to operate such a flight.
A statement from the airline signed by its Chief executive Officer, Ahadu Simachew, confirmed that on the day, all the flight operations from cockpit, cabin, check-in, customer care, air traffic control to ground handling will all be done by women.
The company said its desire is to contribute towards creating a more gender inclusive world in which women are given a chance and support to thrive in male dominated fields.
“We place immense respect on women and we are an ardent supporter of women empowerment and gender equality. That is why we have over the years made deliberate efforts to increase diversity in the cockpit by training more women pilots to inspire more girls to take up careers in aviation,” the statement said.
The aircraft, a Bombadier Q-400 will be under the command of Captain Yolanda Kaunda and assisted by Lusekelo Mwenifumbo.
Yolanda is Malawi’s first female captain.
