Winners of the 8th Edition of IATA Diversity and Inclusion Awards Announced

Here are the winners of the 8th Edition of the IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards, announced on June 7, 2026, during the World Air Transport Summit in Rio de Janeiro:

Inspirational Role Model:
Rania Alturki, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Saudia Group
- First female executive at Saudia Group.
- Championed initiatives for female pilots, cabin crew, technicians, and engineers.
- Women now make up ~25% of the workforce, with 36+ in leadership roles.
- Programs like Female First Officers Initiative and Female Technicians Program created sustainable career pathways.

High Flyer:
Fiona Omondi, Chief Strategy Officer, Tradewinds Aviation Services and Co-Founder, Women in Aviation International Kenya
- Co-founded Women in Aviation International Kenya to promote aviation careers.
- Established Tradewinds Training Academy to provide globally recognized aviation training.
- Focused on mentorship and outreach to build a diverse talent pipeline in Africa.

Diversity & Inclusion Team:
LATAM Airlines Group
- Increased female maintenance technicians from 111 (2021) to 539 (2025).
- Built regional talent pipelines through scholarships, in-house training, and partnerships.
- Launched Women Who Touch the Clouds campaign to highlight women in technical roles.
- Strengthened workforce resilience by dismantling gender stereotypes.

Key Highlights
- Each winner receives $25,000, sponsored by Qatar Airways, to support themselves or their chosen charities.
- The awards celebrate progress in aviation diversity, particularly the growing presence of women in leadership, technical, and operational roles.
- IATA Director General Willie Walsh emphasized that these initiatives signal “opportunities without boundaries” for careers in aviation.