BY SUMMER CRANDALL

Air travel is rebounding, airlines are hiring, and the demand for pilots is rising. But one statistic in aviation has remained largely unchanged: women remain significantly underrepresented in the cockpit.

Women make up about 6 percent of airline pilots worldwide, according to the International Society of Women Airline Pilots. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration reported that women account for roughly 9 percent of certified pilots and approximately 5 percent of airline transport pilots, the highest certification level.

The imbalance persists even as the aviation industry faces a growing pilot shortage. Boeing projected in its 2023 Pilot and Technician Outlook that North America will need more than 120,000 new pilots over the next 20 years to meet demand. Industry experts say the gender gap is not caused by lack of ability, but by structural barriers.

Training costs are one factor. Becoming a commercial airline pilot can cost between $70,000 and $100,000, depending on the flight school and training path. Unlike many traditional college programs, flight training often requires significant upfront expenses with limited access to federal financial aid.

Representation also plays a role. Research from the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media has found that visibility in male dominated careers can influence young women’s career aspirations. In aviation, where most captains are male, exposure to female pilots remains limited. “Representation matters,” said Lynda Coffman, president of the International Society of Women Airline Pilots, in previous public statements. “When young women see someone who looks like them in the cockpit, it changes what they believe is possible.”

Airlines and advocacy organizations have introduced outreach efforts to address the disparity. Women in Aviation International hosts annual “Girls in Aviation Day” events that allow students to meet pilots, tour aircraft and explore aviation careers. Several major U.S. airlines have also launched cadet programs aimed at broadening recruitment pipelines.

Supporters of diversification efforts argue that the issue extends beyond equity. Studies published in the Harvard Business Review and by McKinsey & Company have found that diverse teams often demonstrate stronger decision making and improved problem solving critical skills in high stakes professions such as aviation.

Despite these initiatives, progress has been gradual. FAA data shows that the percentage of women airline transport pilots has increased only modestly over the past decade. As the industry works to fill thousands of open positions, aviation leaders say expanding access may be essential to sustaining long-term growth.While the skies are open to all, the cockpit remains one of the most gender-imbalanced spaces in the workforce.