Air India Express, the international budget arm of the Tata Group, achieved a significant milestone by operating India's first all-women Hajj flight. The airline proudly announced that the special flight, carrying 145 women pilgrims, was entirely managed by an all-women crew in critical flight operations roles. This groundbreaking initiative supported the Haj Committee of India's vision to have exclusively women passengers on board.
Designated as flight IX 3025, the pioneering all-women Hajj flight took off from Kozhikode to Jeddah at 18:45 IST on Thursday, reaching its destination at 22:45 local time. Pilot Kanika Mehra and First Officer Garima Passi led the way, accompanied by cabin crew members Bijitha M B, Sreelakshmi, Sushma Sharma, and Subhangi Biswas, as highlighted by Air India Express.
Notably, the exceptional efforts extended beyond the crew members. The ground operations and aircraft maintenance tasks for this historic flight were also performed by women personnel, demonstrating the airline's commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunities.
Air India Express emphasized that the Haj Committee's empowering initiative for women perfectly aligns with the airline's core values of equality and diversity. With a workforce consisting of 50 percent women, the company remains dedicated to fostering an environment that embraces and promotes gender parity.