Transport Ministry aiming for 50% women representation in aviation sector by 2030

DURBAN - The Transport Ministry says it wants the aviation space to have 50% women representation by 2030.

This after deputy Transport Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa flagged a worrying gender gap in the sector.

Hlengwa addressed the aviation gender summit in Durban on Wednesday, as the department celebrates women in aviation this month.

The Transport Ministry said that out of the 25,830 licensed personnel in the country’s civil aviation space, only 5,067 are female.

This includes pilots, engineers, air traffic officers and cabin crew, and the ministry described this as a challenge.  

"And that fact we are a new government, the Government of National Unity, we are setting the reset to how things are done. The department is currently seized with an aviation policy review which will enable us to locate correctly the targets that have been set," Hlengwa said.

Hlengwa has challenged the aviation industry to empower women, especially considering South Africa's unemployment rate.