In recognition of Mother’s Day, AirAsia has introduced a nursing cover and Moms-on-Duty kit as part of its ongoing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiative.
The nursing cover is a significant addition to the airline’s uniform, designed to provide nursing mothers with privacy and comfort while breastfeeding on duty. The accompanying Moms-on-Duty kit is a comprehensive resource for new mothers working at AirAsia, offering guidance on notifying colleagues about pumping needs, accessing internal support for health and nutrition, and a gift baby romper from AirAsia.
This initiative stems from feedback gathered from focus group discussions with mothers employed as pilots and cabin crew, highlighting challenges such as limited opportunities to express breastmilk during flights and the absence of private spaces on aircraft. These challenges have led some mothers to extend their unpaid maternity leave or even leave the profession.
AirAsia is committed to creating a supportive and inclusive work environment for all mothers, recognizing the unique challenges they face in balancing their operational roles with motherhood. This initiative is part of a broader effort to increase female participation in operational roles, including enhancements to facilities and offices, as well as improved income security for pregnant pilots, cabin crews, and engineers, in line with best practices guidelines published by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
In 2022, AirAsia extended the maternity leave for its staff in Malaysia from 60 to 98 days and opened a childcare center at its headquarters, RedQ, in 2018. This facility accommodates children aged 11 months to 6 years and currently serves 80 children of AirAsia employees.
AirAsia’s 2023 Sustainability Report noted significant improvements in enhancing female participation in leadership and STEM roles. The percentage of women in leadership positions increased from 24% to 32% over the past year, representation of female pilots increased from 6.6% to 7%, and the percentage of women in IT roles jumped from 17.7% to 23.9% in 2022.
This initiative is a testament to AirAsia’s commitment to providing a supportive and inclusive work environment for all employees, regardless of their gender or parental status.
