The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) is calling for airlines to encourage women in to the industry by improving maternity pay.
This comes just days after British Airways’ stated commitment to recruiting more female pilots has been called into questions after t emerged that the flag carrier offers just six weeks’ maternity pay to its staff.
According to The Guardian, BALPA said the current level of maternity pay across the aviation industry was an obstacle to women entering the profession.
BA has recently launched a recruitment drive to get more women in the cockpit for its centenary year. It currently employs 300 female pilots – but any who become pregnant face a 90% pay cut.
BALPA launched its industry-wide ‘Baby on Board’ campaign with a parliamentary event, to demand an end to statutory maternity pay and the implementation of an improved maternity leave.
BALPA General Secretary, Brian Strutton said, “Many of the hardships associated with an 80-90% reduction in pay are obvious, particularly those which coincide with the extra expenditure involved in preparing for a new baby.
“Many of our female members tell us that they are the highest earners within their families – the traditional ‘breadwinner’ role. Some are single parent families. Increasingly, women pilots are also servicing debt from the costs of higher education and flight training, along with saving for the costs of buying a first house.
“When they go on statutory maternity leave their wages are slashed to just £145.18 per week and many find themselves struggling financially.
“For some it means delaying having children, taking shorter maternity leave or giving up on having a family all together.
“If airlines are serious about taking on more women pilots they should say yes.”
