AirAsia Philippines mounts an all-female flight crew headed by Captain Jasmin Timola and First Officer Nicolette Trisha Castaneda. The crew will take passengers to Manila-Caticlan-Manila and then Manila-Panglao-Manila. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News 

MANILA - Filipina pilot Captain Jasmin Timola is proud to be one of the few female pilots in the Philippines today.

Timola said she hopes more women join the aviation sector.

“The aircraft doesn’t know any gender. It’s really both for men and women and every gender,” she said.

She estimated only about 5 to 10 percent of pilots in the Philippines are women, and she wants to help improve that number.

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Towards this end, AirAsia Philippines mounted an all-women crew flight to celebrate International Women’s Day, Friday. It also coincided with the National Women’s Month this March.

The flights, which consisted of four legs or trips, were headed by Captain Timola and Flight Officer Nicolette Castaneda, both full-time moms. They said with the all-women crew flights, they want to show to the public that women can become pilots and can be successful in a male-dominated industry.

“It’s very significant that we have flights like these that’s all-women to encourage others also that all women can do anything,” said Castaneda.

 AirAsia Philippines mounts an all-female flight crew headed by Captain Jasmin Timola and First Officer Nicolette Trisha Castaneda with Senior Cabin Crew Mhea Salvador, and Cabin Crew Thalia Javier, Demii Marvick Fernando and Jamessy Lee Asok, in celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024 at NAIA terminal 2 in Pasay City. The crew will take passengers to Manila-Caticlan-Manila then Manila-Panglao-Manila. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Timola was a flight attendant for 9 years first before becoming a pilot. She said many are still shocked today that there are female pilots, and she wants to change that perception.

“When I always get out of the cockpit, some male passengers say ‘oh female’,” she recalled.

Some of the cabin crew also said that having female pilots inspires many who may also want to join the aviation sector. They said it gives a feeling of inclusivity and nondiscrimination.

“You have to have brains and beauty and courage. If in case of emergency, di pwedeng maganda lang ako (I can't be just pretty),” said senior cabin crew Mhea Salvador referring to the perception that flight crew only have beautiful faces.

“Pagka nalaman nila na female pilot yung captain namin, nagugulat sila and na inspire sila to take a photo with them as well kasi yung kids nila they also want to be a pilot,” said cabin crew Thalia Javier.

(When they found out that the captain was female, they were surprised and inspired. Some take photos with them to inspire their kids who also want to be a pilot.)

Aside from having an all-women crew flight, the airline also opened an “all-women lane” for passengers at the check-in area. This is a way to honor and support women on this special day, the company said.

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