Women empowerment soars with PAL’s HISTORIC ALL-FEMALE CREW flIGHTS
IN the spirit of this year’s International Women’s Month, flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) marked another aviation milestone by sending off the most number of all-female flight crews in a single day, marking a collective triumph for women in the air travel industry.
On March 4, nine all-female pilots and cabin crew took to the skies to different local and international PAL destinations. Two were bound for California — to San Francisco and Los Angeles — along with flights to Sydney, Hanoi, and Jakarta. The rest of the women-only deck crew on domestic flights headed to Cebu, Tagbilaran, Davao, and Iloilo.
Besides mounting this historic and inspirational effort to break the proverbial glass ceiling, PAL also highlighted the inclusion of female pilots across all flight divisions and ranks for the first time.
Of course, this pair of beautiful milestones deserved no less than a starstudded send-off via a grand celebration at PAL Express Gate 2 in Pasay City.
It was Captain Lilybeth Tan-Ng, PAL’s AVP for Pilot Affairs, Flight Operations, who shared how the historic event came to fruition at the girl power gathering.
“This time last year, we had an entire crew of women flying to Guam — an initiative spearheaded by Shinjiro ‘Mark’ Okuhira, PAL Station Manager in Guam. He approached our flight operations department requesting an all-female crew, and we enthusiastically supported the endeavor.”
The all-female flight crew for the PR110 Manila-Guam (March 22, 2023) and PR111 Guam-Manila (March 24, 2023) flights was led by Captain Emmie Inciong-Ragasa, assisted by Ng, who was designated as First Officer (FO).
“During that period, while discussing the project with our marketing team, I highlighted two pilots who were up for promotion. I expressed my hope that if everything went smoothly, we would see female pilots in every position and flight division by this time the following year. It was an ambitious goal, but one worth striving for.”
Reflecting on the turn of events, Ng underscored the importance of recognizing the significant milestones women in aviation have achieved over the years.
“I just want to share what a pilot goes through to illustrate the difficulty of the journey: At Philippine Airlines, pilots typically begin as Second Officers on wide-body aircraft, then progress to First Officers on narrow-body planes, followed by advancement to First Officers on wide-body aircraft and then narrow-body. Ultimately, they become captains of the narrow-body aircraft first and then the wide-body aircraft.
“From my own experience, graduating from PAL Aviation School in the class of 2002 and witnessing the progress over the past two decades, it’s evident that reaching this point where all positions are filled by women has been a long and arduous journey.”
As one of the most senior female pilots in the Philippines, Ng had the privilege of witnessing the evolution firsthand. She said the past two decades have been a testament to the dedication and perseverance of countless individuals who have supported and championed gender equality in aviation.
“As we celebrate this milestone, it’s also a moment for reflection — to acknowledge how far we’ve come and to express gratitude to all those who have contributed to making this achievement possible,” Ng expressed.
A cause for celebration
Women’s empowerment was as strong as ever at Philippine Airlines when it honored and celebrated the all-female crews who soared to the skies on March 4.
Present to cheer them on at the send-off were several Filipina personalities, including Bianca Gonzalez, Andi Manzano, and Camille Prats.
At the event’s sideline, Gonzalez shared she and her daughter were going aboard the special flight to San Francisco and noted the event’s significance for both of them.
“For me, it’s a big deal for my daughter to see that it’s possible to have an all-female flight deck — from the pilot to the flight attendants and even the ground crew. That’s a very powerful image for her, and I think it’s a good message to the current and next generation of women.”
Throughout its 83 years, PAL has evolved into a leader in cultivating a progressive, women-inclusive company culture that allows everyone to thrive.
PAL saw a landmark year in 1993 when Captain Aimee Carandang became its first female pilot and Southeast Asia’s first commercial pilot, marking a historic moment in Asian aviation.
Captain Carandang’s ascent to this position not only symbolizes PAL’s dedication to diversity and inclusivity but also serves as a testament to the airline’s unwavering support for women.