The Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter (WIAAC) welcomes their newest signatory, JetBlue Airways, in supporting improved gender balance in the aviation and aerospace industry. JetBlue joins the Charter’s range of 240 signatories and supporting organisations across aviation, aerospace, airlines, airports, trade bodies, and more.
By signing the Charter, JetBlue pledges to improve the preparation for and progression of women into senior leadership roles through a variety of recruitment efforts, development opportunities and education programs for the next generation of aviation professionals, with an emphasis on greater gender parity. The Charter was signed by Joanna Geraghty, president and chief operating officer at JetBlue.
Signing this charter aligns with JetBlue’s reimagined diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy, which focuses on creating greater access to select career paths, fostering equity by removing barriers to entry and growing a more diverse slate of senior leaders. Employee feedback was part of the impetus for JetBlue to re-examine and evolve its DEI platform, which is starting with a concentration on three areas: people, sourcing and brand, with plans to expand to other areas of the company. JetBlue’s DEI strategy includes an investment in crewmembers’ development, retention and growth, as well as long-term efforts to engage and work with minority and women owned businesses (MWBE), and more. As a result, JetBlue is making a significant commitment to diversity its leadership ranks, including increasing its representation of women at the officer and director level, from 32 percent today to 40 percent by the end of 2025
“At JetBlue, our goal is to reflect the diverse experiences, cultures and perspectives of the various communities we serve in all aspects of our airline”, said Joanna Geraghty, president and chief operating officer, JetBlue. “Diversity affects our ability to attract and retain top talent, while a more inclusive workplace drives better decision-making and innovation. Our greatest area of improvement is within our leadership ranks. With bold targets and new development programs, we’re cultivating a more diverse workforce and charting a path to meet these objectives for both our crewmembers’ development as well as business’ success.”
Sumati Sharma, Co-Chair of the WIAAC and partner at Oliver Wyman, said, “JetBlue is a most welcome signatory to the Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter. Their pledge to supporting improved gender balance within our sector comes at a crucial time as we rebuild the travel industry post-COVID. A recent Oliver Wyman report shows that there is a startling gender gap in the industry’s leadership, so this is a fantastic stride towards building the aviation and aerospace sectors of tomorrow. We look forward to working alongside this leading airline in creating more opportunities for underrepresented groups and driving wide-reaching, long-lasting change.”
For more information about WIAAC, its signatories, and its initiatives, please visit: www.wiaacharter.com or follow it on LinkedIn and Twitter.
About Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter
At Farnborough Airshow 2018, the Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter was launched, with companies and organisations within the UK’s aviation and aerospace sectors making a commitment to work together to build a more balanced and fair industry for women. With more than 230 signatories, the charter reflects the aspiration to see gender balance at all levels across the industry for both women and men in the sector.
Women are under-represented in aviation and aerospace, with only 5 per cent of commercial pilots in the UK being women, as well as a well-recognised shortage of women studying STEM subjects and taking up roles in engineering. The aviation and aerospace sectors are world-leading, and to sustain this industry we need to ensure that we have access to a diverse range of innovators and leaders of the future.
In working towards achieving greater gender balance, the Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter also aims to support and showcase female role models to demonstrate that opportunities are available, regardless of gender.
About JetBlue Airways
JetBlue is New York’s Hometown Airline®, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles, Orlando and San Juan. JetBlue carries customers across the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America, and between New York and London. For more information, visit jetblue.com.
WIAAC Media Contacts
Daisy Omissi
VP External Communications – Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace
Rosie Causer/Emma Yardley
Pembroke and Rye