Opening Speech by Senior Minister of State, Dr Amy Khor, at the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) Female Pilots’ Working Group

Good morning Captain Hassan East Asia Vice President of the IFALPA, 

Captain Mar, Chair of the IFALPA Female Pilots’ Working Group,

Working Group Members,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

1.     Thank you for inviting me to the IFALPA Female Pilots’ Working Group meeting. A warm welcome to all guests, especially those who have flown in from overseas to join us today.

2.     I had the opportunity to speak at the 76^th IFALPA Conference when it was last held in Singapore in 2022, where I shared how I was encouraged that the IFALPA Female Pilots’ Working Group advocates and supports women in the piloting profession.

3.     Today, Singapore has the privilege of hosting the IFALPA Female Pilots’ Working Group’s inaugural meeting in Asia, and I am honoured to be speaking again in support of women in the aviation sector.

The future of aviation is bright

4.     Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the aviation sector has seen a strong recovery worldwide. In Singapore, Changi Airport’s passenger traffic levels have reached close to pre-COVID levels, supported by a strong aviation workforce.

5.     With a growing middle class in the Asia-Pacific, we expect more people to aspire to fly for both work and leisure.  In fact, the Asia-Pacific region is projected to see the fastest growth in passenger traffic over the next two decades, making up more than half of global passenger demand by 2040.

Preparing for the future

6.     Singapore is preparing to ride this growth. Our total passenger handling capacity at Changi is 90 million passengers per annum (mppa) today. We will begin construction on the new Changi Terminal 5 next year, which will increase our handling capacity by another 50 mppa when it is operational in the mid-2030s.

7.     We also aim to grow Changi Airport’s network from around 160 city links today to over 200 links by the mid-2030s, to deepen our connections in the region and beyond.

8.     At the same time, we must be prepared for change. The manner in which air travel will grow and develop will be different from how it has been in the past.

9.     The International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, has set a long-term global aspirational goal for international aviation of net-zero carbon emission by 2050. Sustainability will be a key part of aviation to ensure that future generations can continue enjoying the benefits of air connectivity and flying.

10.    Earlier this year, Singapore launched the Sustainable Air Hub Blueprint which sets out a balanced approach towards environmental sustainability, while ensuring that our air hub remains competitive. The Blueprint outlines concrete steps that Singapore will take to reduce our carbon footprint in aviation.

11.    This includes the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF, at Changi Airport from 2026, increasing solar power deployment and expanding the use of cleaner energy for vehicles at the airport, as well as improving our air traffic management.

12.    As the aviation industry continues to expand, it is important that we leverage new technologies and innovate existing processes to meet demand more efficiently, both in the skies and on the ground.

13.    For instance, in August this year, Air Navigation Service Providers from Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Singapore, along with their national carriers, launched User-Preferred Routing, or UPR trials on 38 scheduled routes between cities in Australia and New Zealand, as well as Indonesia and Singapore.

14.    Under UPR, pilots have the flexibility to choose the most efficient and direct routes to their destinations, enabling better use of airspace, reduced flight time, and lower carbon emissions. With improvements in technology, we hope to explore more of such initiatives that will have a significant impact on industry norms in this next era of aviation.           

15.    Singapore is also enhancing airport operations through automation and biometric processing. In September this year, we completed the implementation of passport-less clearance across all four terminals in Changi Airport, allowing passengers to seamlessly clear immigration by simply using their facial and iris biometrics. Trials to automate other processes at Changi Airport such as baggage handling are underway.

Ensuring a future-ready aviation workforce

16.     The future of the aviation sector is exciting, and the sector will continue to provide good careers for its workers. In Singapore, we are taking steps to ensure that our aviation workforce is also future-ready, resilient, and inclusive.

17.    First, we want to ensure that the careers in aviation remain attractive to our people, especially our young. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, or CAAS, works closely with local educational institutions to raise awareness and interest among our youth to join the sector.

18.    It has partnerships with Singapore’s National Youth Council and the Singapore Scout Association to co-develop and promote aviation-related job experiential activities for youth and increase enrolment in the Air Scout co-curricular programme.

19.    Last month, CAAS also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Women in Aviation International Singapore Chapter to drive events and initiatives that promote awareness, facilitate career exploration and highlight opportunities in the aviation sector for young women.

20.    Second, Singapore has invested in offering aviation specialisation opportunities via our Institutes of Higher Learning.

21.    These courses cover areas from aviation management to aerospace engineering and manufacturing, and offer students a valuable grounding in targeted segments of the aviation industry as well as create awareness of high-value technical jobs in the sector. These ensures that we have a steady pipeline of aviation professionals who are equipped with relevant skills when they enter the industry.

22.    Third, we are also working to ensure that our existing workforce is equipped to succeed and contribute meaningfully in this fast-changing operating environment.  Earlier this year, CAAS launched a sector-wide manpower study on the impact of trends such as digitalisation, automation, and sustainability on our aviation workforce.

23.    With these insights, we would be able to better plan and prepare our workforce and companies for the future operating environment. In doing so, we will continue to leverage our strong tripartite partnership between the Government, workers, and employers, so that companies are able to continue investing in their employees.

Strength in diversity

24.    This leads me to my final point, which is that as the aviation sector grows, organisations like the IFALPA Female Pilots’ Working Group play an important role in ensuring that different voices are heard. This allows for strength in diversity.

25.    Today, women are already involved in various fields in the aviation sector – airlines, ground handling, engineering, cargo – to name a few. In Singapore, the number of women in the aviation workforce has been increasing steadily. Many have also excelled in a wide range of roles and assumed leadership positions.

26.    It is no different for pilots. The number of female pilots has grown over the years. In Singapore, our first female commercial pilot joined the Singapore Airlines group in 2001. Today, we have over 60 female pilots flying with Singapore’s local carriers. I believe many of you would have seen similar trends in your own countries. 

27.    Nonetheless, according to ICAO, only 4% of pilots worldwide were female as of 2023^[1]. This is where the IFALPA Female Pilots’ Working Group plays an especially important role in providing a platform to raise awareness of the issues faced by female pilots, and recognise their contributions to the sector.

28.    I understand that the Working Group has successfully implemented a range of policies aimed at improving workplace inclusivity, in particular for pregnant and post-partum female pilots across major airlines.

29.    These are important contributions that help to create a working environment where female pilots feel supported in their careers. It allows the aviation workforce to be more welcoming, inclusive, diverse, and resilient overall.

30.    In addition, the invaluable networks amongst your members – even across borders – reinforce the sense of community in a fast-changing world.

31.    I believe this year’s IFALPA Female Pilots’ Working Group meeting welcomes the highest number of APAC Member Associations in its attendance history, with Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Australia being represented for the first time.

32.    I am heartened to see so many women who are valuable contributors to the global aviation industry gathered here today. The community and connections built through events such as today’s, and the insights that will be shared, are key in sustaining a strong pipeline of women leaders in aviation.

Conclusion

33.    In closing, I am confident that the IFALPA Female Pilots’ Working Group’s work will contribute towards building a stronger bench strength of pilots for the next generation.

34.    It plays a critical role in building a workforce that is diverse, inclusive, and future-ready. This in turn will enable our aviation industry to soar to greater heights and towards brighter skies.

35.    I wish you all a fruitful meeting. Thank you. 

^[1] Based on ICAO’s global survey on the status of licensed aviation personnel by gender.