Qatar Airways Cargo has operated its first all-female freighter flight to mark International Women’s Day (8 March).

The landmark flight took place on Sunday (5 March), as its scheduled Boeing 777 freighter from Doha to Shanghai was operated entirely of a crew of made up of women. From the ground staff overseeing and handling the cargo, to the flight deck crew operating the flight, Qatar Airways Cargo said it was the first time one of its freighter aircraft had been operated with an all-female crew and all-female ground staff.

Captain Sarah Abigail Comerford from United Kingdom, First Officer Edith Mala Diop from France and First Officer Hedfa Mohammed Al Marri from Qatar operated the flight. The Boeing 777 freighter departed Doha with 100 tonnes of cargo destined for Shanghai.

“I am proud to have such a diverse workforce within Qatar Airways Cargo. We are committed to promoting gender diversity and that women are equally represented in our workforce, which is why we can proudly say we have almost 50 percent of women in various age groups and roles working globally for Qatar Airways Cargo,” said Qatar Airways Cargo’s chief officer cargo Guillaume Halleux.

“Women not only promote inclusivity and diversity in the workplace, they also bring in creativity and success to a business. Our success as the world’s leading air cargo carrier is due to the hard work and talent of all our employees and this includes the female staff we are so proud to have within our business.”

Elisabeth Oudkerk, senior vice president cargo sales and network planning, commented: “As a woman who has worked in the industry for over 20 years, I am proud to see the great strides females have made in the field of aviation and air cargo. It is an industry that has so many opportunities and so many varied roles, I encourage any woman looking for a career in this industry to pursue their dream.”