Twenty-eight students from Dublin’s St David’s College got a unique behind-the-scenes look at the aviation industry last week as United Airlines and Dublin Airport teamed up to celebrate Girls in Aviation Day. Now in its second year, the initiative aims to encourage more young women to consider careers across the aviation sector by providing direct exposure to the wide range of opportunities available both in the air and on the ground.
The participating second-year students were given access to areas of Dublin Airport rarely seen by the public. The tour included visits to the airport fire station, the Airport Operations Centre, and a United Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner, where the students had the opportunity to explore the aircraft interior and visit the cockpit.
As well as seeing airport operations first-hand, the group heard from professionals working in a variety of aviation roles. Representatives from United Airlines and Dublin Airport shared their personal career journeys, highlighting opportunities in operations, customer service, sales, marketing, retail, social media, leadership and other aviation-related fields.
Roger Berry, General Manager of United Airlines in Dublin, said the event was designed to help young women see the industry as both accessible and rewarding. “Girls in Aviation is all about exposure, inspiration and education. The aviation sector offers a wide variety of career opportunities beyond piloting, and we want young women to experience firsthand that careers in the industry are both achievable and fulfilling.”
Dublin Airport Managing Director Gary McLean said initiatives such as Girls in Aviation Day play an important role in building awareness of careers across the aviation ecosystem. “Aviation offers a wide range of exciting and rewarding careers, from engineering and operations to technology, sustainability and leadership. By giving young people the chance to meet role models, see behind the scenes and learn more about our industry, we hope to encourage more girls to consider a future in aviation.”
The programme forms part of a wider partnership between United Airlines’ uIMPACT employee resource group and Women in Aviation International (WAI), a non-profit organisation dedicated to encouraging women and girls to pursue careers in aviation and aerospace. Since 2016, the collaboration has supported events worldwide aimed at inspiring the next generation of aviation professionals.
Girls in Aviation Day has become an important annual event across the industry, providing young people with opportunities to engage directly with aviation organisations and professionals. Initiatives such as the Dublin Airport and Shannon Aviation Museum events continue to showcase the diverse career pathways available in one of the world’s most dynamic industries.
