The Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter (WIAAC) is moving into an exciting new chapter. After building strong momentum in the United Kingdom, the Charter is now expanding its work into Europe, bringing its vision for a more inclusive aviation industry to a much wider stage.
For anyone working in aviation, it’s no secret that gender representation across the sector still has a long way to go. The European market is no exception. That’s exactly why this expansion matters: it gives organisations across Europe access to a framework that’s already proven its value, while allowing each country to adapt it to their own regulations and culture.
Building on success
One of the strengths of WIAAC has always been its simplicity — clear commitments, transparent reporting, and a strong focus on action rather than talk. By extending this tested model into Europe, the Charter hopes to create a shared language for progress.
What the European expansion will deliver
The WIAAC’s European working group has outlined a clear set of outcomes designed to unlock the region’s untapped potential:
- Address Gender Disparity: Tackle the significant underrepresentation of women in aviation and aerospace roles
- Leverage Local Energy: Use the strength of existing European initiatives while bringing in the proven UK framework
- Create a European Ambassador Network: Local leads will drive ownership, activation, and engagement in their own countries
- Launch a European “Event Toolkit”: This will help organisations plan impactful local events and align with regional storytelling
- Increase Visibility Through Communication: Share campaigns and events to amplify success stories and highlight best practices
Why this matters
The expansion isn’t just symbolic. Greater diversity in aviation isn’t a “nice to have”; it’s tied to better innovation, stronger decision-making, and a healthier, more equitable industry. Europe has an incredible pool of untapped potential, and WIAAC’s goal is to help unlock it.
This is the start of a new phase — one that brings more voices into the conversation, more collaboration across borders, and hopefully, more measurable progress.
Bringing the Charter to life in Europe
The work has already begun. In November 2025, WIAAC held its first European event in partnership with the Royal Schiphol Group in Amsterdam. Around 120 attendees from more than 30 companies came together to listen and share insights.
However, what made the evening powerful wasn’t the scale; it was the range of voices in the room. People from different backgrounds, roles, and corners of the industry spoke openly about their own journeys and the challenges they’ve faced in making aviation more inclusive. Hearing those stories side by side made it clear why this European expansion matters. It’s these lived experiences that will shape how the Charter grows across the region.
To get involved, please contact our Europe leads Veronica Hull and Bábète Boomgaardt.
