Aviation Diversity Champions Honoured at Global Industry Awards

Rania Alturki received the Inspirational Role Model Award for her work transforming opportunities for women across Saudia Group.

Efforts to create more inclusive workplaces and open new career opportunities across aviation were celebrated at the 2026 IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards, where industry leaders and organizations from different parts of the world were recognized for reshaping the future of air transport. Presented during the World Air Transport Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the awards highlighted individuals and teams whose work has expanded access to aviation careers and encouraged greater participation from groups that have traditionally been underrepresented in the sector.

This year's winners included Rania Alturki of Saudia Group, Fiona Omondi of Tradewinds Aviation Services and Women in Aviation International Kenya, and LATAM Airlines Group. Each winner received a $25,000 award through sponsorship provided by Qatar Airways. Industry leaders said diversity and inclusion are becoming increasingly important as aviation competes for skilled talent and works to reflect the communities it serves around the world.

Saudia Executive Opens New Doors for Women

Rania Alturki received the Inspirational Role Model Award for her work transforming opportunities for women across Saudia Group. As the airline group's first female executive, she helped introduce initiatives that encouraged women to enter professions that had historically seen little female representation. Her work created pathways into pilot training, engineering, technical positions and leadership roles.

Women now account for around a quarter of Saudia Group's workforce and play an important role in its ongoing growth and modernization. Female representation among cabin crew members has reached 56 percent, while more than one-third of new hires in 2025 were women. Female leadership has also expanded significantly, with more than 36 women serving in management positions across the organization.

Programs introduced under her leadership have helped women pursue careers as commercial pilots, technicians and future business leaders. More than 280 women now work in technical and engineering roles within the group, while leadership development initiatives have strengthened the pipeline of female talent entering senior positions.

Aviation Organizations Build Stronger Talent Pipelines

The High Flyer Award went to Fiona Omondi, Chief Strategy Officer at Tradewinds Aviation Services and co-founder of Women in Aviation International Kenya. Omondi has become a leading advocate for aviation careers across Africa through mentorship programs, outreach campaigns and initiatives designed to introduce young people to opportunities within the industry. Her work has helped make aviation careers more visible to students who may never have previously considered the sector as a future profession. She also played a major role in establishing the Tradewinds Training Academy, which provides internationally recognized aviation training and practical career preparation for aspiring professionals.

LATAM Airlines Group earned the Diversity & Inclusion Team Award for its success in increasing the number of female aircraft maintenance technicians across its operations. The number of women working in these technical roles grew from 111 in 2021 to 539 by the end of 2025. The airline group achieved this growth through scholarships, partnerships with educational institutions, internship opportunities, in-house training programs and coordinated efforts across several South American countries. A campaign called "Women Who Touch the Clouds" also helped showcase female professionals working in technical positions and challenged outdated perceptions about careers in aircraft maintenance.

Industry leaders said the achievements of this year's winners demonstrate how inclusive hiring and career development practices can strengthen businesses while creating broader opportunities for future generations entering aviation.