Thousands attend Women in Aviation conference

More than 5,000 people attended the 36th annual Women in Aviation International Conference, held March 27-29, 2025, in Denver.

According to association officials, there were attendees from 34 countries, including Nigeria, Canada, United Kingdom, Tunisia, Brazil, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Kenya, Ghana, Ireland, Japan, and others.

WAI2025 attendees were 70% female and 23% male, they added.

Other conference highlights include:

• The WAI chapter network has reached more than 170 chapters in 23 countries representing 140 U.S. chapters and 33 international chapters. Nearly 50% of WAI members belong to their local chapter.
• The exhibit hall hosted more than 170  companies and organizations, representing all aspects of the aviation community.
• During the event, 93 scholarships were awarded. Since 1995, WAI has awarded more than $15 million in scholarships.

The event also included the induction of the Class of 2025 into the International Pioneer Hall of Fame. This year’s inductees include Janet Harmon Bragg, one of America’s first Black female pilots after enrolling in Chicago’s Curtiss-Wright Aeronautical School in 1933; Willa Brown Chappell, who dedicated her life fighting for gender and racial equality in the military lobbying for integration of the U.S. Army Air Corps and the Civilian Pilot Training Program; Theresa Claiborne, the first Black woman qualified as an Air Force pilot, KC-135 pilot, and Air Force flight instructor and a co-founder of Sisters of the Skies.

On Saturday, March 29, more than 250 girls attended Girls in Aviation Day Denver. The girls, ages 8-18, visited over 30 activity stations, heard about six different aviation careers from “The Sky is Unlimited” career panel, and had fun while they learned about aviation and aerospace, WAI officials noted. The older girls had the opportunity to meet with representatives from universities, flight schools, and airlines. Each participant received a Girls in Aviation Day Activity Kit and earned a WAI Aviation Fun Patch.

The 37th Annual Women in Aviation International Conference will be held March 19-21, 2026, at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Conference Center in Dallas.

For more information: WAI.org