100% female Brussels Airlines crew flies to New York on International Women’s Day

At the occasion of International Women’s Day (8 March), Brussels Airlines flight SN501 to New York will be entirely composed of female crew members. The initiative was launched by the female Brussels Airlines pilots and flight attendants who have been playing an important at the airline role since many years.

More than a hundred years after Helène Dutrieu was the first Belgian woman and one of the first female pilots in the world to obtain het pilot’s license, Brussels Airlines has 46 female pilots in its ranks today. Like the 420 male pilots they fly both as Captain or as First Officer on the European or the long haul network. At the occasion of International Women’s Day, Captain Lauretta Verbist, who is working for Brussels Airlines since 1998, took the initiative to assemble an entirely female crew on flight SN501 to New York.
The flight will be operated by Lauretta and Sophie in the cockpit, while Sonia, Cynthia, Gina, Chantal, Diana, Françoise, Melanie and Nathalie will take care of the service in the cabin. “We are really looking forward to this flight”, says Captain Lauretta. “A job in aviation is becoming more and more favorable to women and, with a little organization and support from your family and with an employer like Brussels Airlines, it is possible to combine it with family life. I’ve noticed a positive evolution in recent years and more and more women choose for a career as pilot.”

With more than 10% female pilots, Brussels Airlines scores better than the European average. Female pilots are also taking up functions with more responsibilities. For example, one of Brussels Airlines’ female pilots is leading an important project which will allow Brussels Airlines to lower the fuel consumption of its aircraft. Another example is that of a former Brussels Airlines pilot who moved to Bahrein and became the first female captain in the country.

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About Brussels Airlines

Brussels Airlines is the home carrier of Belgium and one of the four network airlines of the Lufthansa Group. It connects the European capital from Brussels Airport with over 85 destinations, 17 of which are in Sub Saharan Africa. The company employs more than 3,300 people and operates 43 aircraft.

Brussels Airlines aims to emit 50% less CO2 by 2030 compared to 2019 and plans to be carbon neutral by 2050. The airline is participating in the Stargate Project led by Brussels Airport and is therefore part of the testing ground for sustainable aviation at its home base. In addition, the airline signed the Circular Economy agreement of the Antwerp Management School in 2021. The airline was the first to transport Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) through the CEPS-pipeline connecting Brussels Airport early 2023. By end 2024, Brussels Airlines will have welcomed five state-of-the-art Airbus A320neo allowing the airline to significantly lower its CO2- and noise-emissions on its medium-haul network.

As an ambassador of its country, Brussels Airlines brings the world to Belgium and the best of Belgium to the world, among others through collaborations with Belgian Star Chefs, Belgian culinary products and the Belgian Icons, specially painted aircraft that honour a Belgian iconic person, team or event to promote Belgian culture worldwide.

More information on brusselsairlines.com 


About Star Alliance

The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, based on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition and seamless service. Since inception, it has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a focus on improving customer experience across the Alliance journey.

Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 10,000 daily flights to almost 1,200 airports in 184 countries.

More information on staralliance.com

Contact

b.house Zone General Aviation - Airport Building 26 1831 Diegem

+32 2 723 89 90

[email protected]

www.brusselsairlines.com