Gender and inequality in the airline industry

Abstract

The main purpose of this research study is to investigate inequalities on the basis of gender at Air Malta, focusing on two particular groups of employees; Pilots/First Officers and Cabin Crew. This study focuses in particular on attitudes by management and fellow employees about the relationship, if any, between work and gender. I was particularly interested to find out the reason why there are more males employed in the pilot sector and an increasing percentage of females employed amongst the cabin crew area. Opting for a qualitative case study, I collected the data from two departments: pilots and flight attendants. Data was collected using unstructured interviews to get the necessary information from the participants. Interviews were held with 8 cabin crew individuals and 7 pilots. Part of my research was also based on a quantitative study using a survey. The results suggest that, some of the inequalities that used to occur in the past are still there. On the other hand, the situation is gradually changing in a positive way and society itself is starting to think differently on jobs, irrespective of one’s gender.