Tigerair chief Merren McArthur warns on aviation industry’s lack of diversity
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Global Citizen
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tigerair chief Merren McArthur warns on aviation industry’s lack of diversity
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/bus...1fb61ac3b17b51
Ms McArthur said the lack of diversity not only related to gender, but also to ethnicity, age and culture.
“We tend to see aviation as so unique and special, it can only be run by aviation industry veterans,” she said.
“This insularity could mean aviation is missing out on what the industry has previously been renowned for — leading edge innovation.”
Then in the next few paragraphs she highlights SWA as an example of what a LCC can be. Last time I checked there were more than a few ‘industry veterans’ at the helm over there.
Additionally, the SWA ‘culture’ is unsurprisingly raised. MM’s first step should have been to see why SWA’s culture sees high-performance, employee satisfaction and inevitably company profits. Although SWA do not offer the best ‘on paper’ salary their profit sharing and stock purchase plan demonstrate that management care about employees and don’t view them as a column on an expenses spreadsheet, which if reduced will ensure their increased bonuses.
If MM thinks all it takes is ‘striking uniforms’ to change a companies culture I predict she will not last long enough to be considered an industry veteran.
Ms McArthur said the lack of diversity not only related to gender, but also to ethnicity, age and culture.
“We tend to see aviation as so unique and special, it can only be run by aviation industry veterans,” she said.
“This insularity could mean aviation is missing out on what the industry has previously been renowned for — leading edge innovation.”
Then in the next few paragraphs she highlights SWA as an example of what a LCC can be. Last time I checked there were more than a few ‘industry veterans’ at the helm over there.
Additionally, the SWA ‘culture’ is unsurprisingly raised. MM’s first step should have been to see why SWA’s culture sees high-performance, employee satisfaction and inevitably company profits. Although SWA do not offer the best ‘on paper’ salary their profit sharing and stock purchase plan demonstrate that management care about employees and don’t view them as a column on an expenses spreadsheet, which if reduced will ensure their increased bonuses.
If MM thinks all it takes is ‘striking uniforms’ to change a companies culture I predict she will not last long enough to be considered an industry veteran.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Global Citizen
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The entire article
The new chief executive of Australian low-cost carrier Tigerair has used a key address at the annual Centre for Aviation conference to highlight the lack of diversity in the industry.
Merren McArthur, Australia’s only female airline CEO, said women held just 3 per cent of chief executive roles in the aviation industry, compared with 12 per cent in other industries.
Ms McArthur said the lack of diversity not only related to gender, but also to ethnicity, age and culture.
“We tend to see aviation as so unique and special, it can only be run by aviation industry veterans,” she said.
“This insularity could mean aviation is missing out on what the industry has previously been renowned for — leading edge innovation.”
Ms McArthur also tackled the challenges of overcoming the perception of low-cost carriers as “cheap and nasty”, pointing to the success of pioneering LCC South West Airlines.
“Their success was not directly attributable to fares, but the striking uniforms worn by cabin crew and the positive culture which all made the experience memorable for travellers,” she said.
“South West took this business model mainstream and wherever they flew to, prices fell and passenger numbers grew.”
By the end of 2019, Tigerair will have replaced its fleet of A320s with Boeing 737s, which will be able to carry an extra six passengers per flight.
Ms McArthur said this would deliver a “little bit of extra revenue” that would be “much appreciated”.
But she would not be drawn on the timing of Tigerair tackling another overseas route, following its short-lived Bali service.
However, Ms McArthur did indicate any new international venture was more likely to involve New Zealand than Indonesia.
“I haven’t got any plans at the moment, because there’s plenty of room to optimise and improve our domestic operation. Once I’ve done that I’ll move to look at what other market opportunities exist, but that’s still 12 months away.”
Merren McArthur, Australia’s only female airline CEO, said women held just 3 per cent of chief executive roles in the aviation industry, compared with 12 per cent in other industries.
Ms McArthur said the lack of diversity not only related to gender, but also to ethnicity, age and culture.
“We tend to see aviation as so unique and special, it can only be run by aviation industry veterans,” she said.
“This insularity could mean aviation is missing out on what the industry has previously been renowned for — leading edge innovation.”
Ms McArthur also tackled the challenges of overcoming the perception of low-cost carriers as “cheap and nasty”, pointing to the success of pioneering LCC South West Airlines.
“Their success was not directly attributable to fares, but the striking uniforms worn by cabin crew and the positive culture which all made the experience memorable for travellers,” she said.
“South West took this business model mainstream and wherever they flew to, prices fell and passenger numbers grew.”
By the end of 2019, Tigerair will have replaced its fleet of A320s with Boeing 737s, which will be able to carry an extra six passengers per flight.
Ms McArthur said this would deliver a “little bit of extra revenue” that would be “much appreciated”.
But she would not be drawn on the timing of Tigerair tackling another overseas route, following its short-lived Bali service.
However, Ms McArthur did indicate any new international venture was more likely to involve New Zealand than Indonesia.
“I haven’t got any plans at the moment, because there’s plenty of room to optimise and improve our domestic operation. Once I’ve done that I’ll move to look at what other market opportunities exist, but that’s still 12 months away.”
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Europe
Posts: 1,674
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
“We tend to see aviation as so unique and special, it can only be run by aviation industry veterans,” she said.
There is no industry like aviation where the cost of poor decision making kills potentially hundreds of people at a time.
It is the plethora of MBA driven accountants that desperately cling to the myth of it being 'like any other business' where all that matters is revenue and expense.
Ms McArthur also tackled the challenges of overcoming the perception of low-cost carriers as “cheap and nasty”, pointing to the success of pioneering LCC South West Airlines.
“Their success was not directly attributable to fares, but the striking uniforms worn by cabin crew and the positive culture which all made the experience memorable for travellers,” she said.
“South West took this business model mainstream and wherever they flew to, prices fell and passenger numbers grew.”
“Their success was not directly attributable to fares, but the striking uniforms worn by cabin crew and the positive culture which all made the experience memorable for travellers,” she said.
“South West took this business model mainstream and wherever they flew to, prices fell and passenger numbers grew.”
It mostly certainly is not uniforms.
“If the employees come first, then they’re happy. A motivated employee treats the customer well. The customer is happy so they keep coming back, which pleases the shareholders. It’s not one of the enduring green mysteries of all time, it is just the way it works.” – Herb Kelleher
Stick to law Ms Mcarthur
"women held just 3 per cent of chief executive roles in the aviation industry, compared with 12 per cent in other industries"
Statistics and damn lies, I assume she is comparing one relatively small industry (when you are talking about the amount of big players) to the rest of the industries in Australia put together, seems like creative accounting
Statistics and damn lies, I assume she is comparing one relatively small industry (when you are talking about the amount of big players) to the rest of the industries in Australia put together, seems like creative accounting
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Global Citizen
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
More damn stats
Although it’s only NSW data (isn’t Sydney the epicenter of Australia anyway 
) but I don’t recall seeing too many public PR campaigns pushing for more women to become butchers, mechanics and plumbers. Also, when was the last campaign to get more men into nursing - asking for a friend.
https://www.women.nsw.gov.au/__data/..._stats_web.pdf
) but I don’t recall seeing too many public PR campaigns pushing for more women to become butchers, mechanics and plumbers. Also, when was the last campaign to get more men into nursing - asking for a friend. https://www.women.nsw.gov.au/__data/..._stats_web.pdf
Join Date: May 2008
Location: earth
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Funnily enough, just yesterday, a friend of mine who travels regularly within Australia, said to me that she prefers to fly on Tigerair because the staff are clearly happier than on other airlines which creates an overall nicer atmosphere.
Merren McArthur sounds like just the sort of CEO a LCC like tt needs.
Merren McArthur sounds like just the sort of CEO a LCC like tt needs.
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: elsewhere
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Christ.
This gender crap is getting out of hand.
How is more men pursuing this career than females a problem for anyone?
If you want to pursue in aviation, male or female, great, go for it, both genders have the ability to study the same subjects at school and pay for their flight training. Only difference is females will be presented with more employment opportunity for the “glamour” jobs, while their male friends are in a c210.
This gender crap is getting out of hand.
How is more men pursuing this career than females a problem for anyone?
If you want to pursue in aviation, male or female, great, go for it, both genders have the ability to study the same subjects at school and pay for their flight training. Only difference is females will be presented with more employment opportunity for the “glamour” jobs, while their male friends are in a c210.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Global Citizen
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Funnily enough, just yesterday, a friend of mine who travels regularly within Australia, said to me that she prefers to fly on Tigerair because the staff are clearly happier than on other airlines which creates an overall nicer atmosphere.
Merren McArthur sounds like just the sort of CEO a LCC like tt needs.
Merren McArthur sounds like just the sort of CEO a LCC like tt needs.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Global Citizen
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: May 2008
Location: earth
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
to think the CC is representative of all aircrew and maintainers is a bit of a long bow to draw. I could be wrong; I’m sure some TT employee with give us the facts.
Folks,
Given the extremely limited number of airlines in Australia, is not one with a female (apparently, and whatever that means on the "spectrum") CEO means that such perX are vastly over-represented in the CEO ranks, compared to Australian industry, generally. This comment based on her own statement and figures.
Tootle pip!!
perX: Gender neutral description of a homosapien, X designating any chosen position on the gender spectrum, which can comprise anything from 23 (Canadian Government) to 56 (one Sydney University) gender choices. See Australian Government Style Guide.
This X should not be confused with the X chromosome, which is gender specific, and therefore is a disallowed concept.
Given the extremely limited number of airlines in Australia, is not one with a female (apparently, and whatever that means on the "spectrum") CEO means that such perX are vastly over-represented in the CEO ranks, compared to Australian industry, generally. This comment based on her own statement and figures.
Tootle pip!!
perX: Gender neutral description of a homosapien, X designating any chosen position on the gender spectrum, which can comprise anything from 23 (Canadian Government) to 56 (one Sydney University) gender choices. See Australian Government Style Guide.
This X should not be confused with the X chromosome, which is gender specific, and therefore is a disallowed concept.
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Harbour Master Place
Posts: 662
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
X chromosome, which is gender specific
It's the Y chromosome that is gender specific... A true ideological outrage against all reason for the forward thinking modern progressive person. Chromosomal modification is a human right! Biology is not destiny.
/s
Is she not concerned about the low numbers of male cabin crew in her airline?
Or perhaps the low number of male check in staff?
Or the low number of female engineers?
Or perhaps the low number of male check in staff?
Or the low number of female engineers?
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Oz
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm getting tired of this gender cr@p too. Appears to blow from only one direction
Nurses and Midwifery Gender Percentages
Female 89%
Male 11%
Source: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Registration Data Table - March 2018
So why no media articles and recruitment campaigns recruiting more men?
What about the breakdown of gender for school teachers? Similar percentages I suspect. Anyone seen any media stunts from the Education department calling for more male teachers?
Check out the multiple defence force jobs advertised on SEEK clearly stating (Female opportunity)
Nurses and Midwifery Gender Percentages
Female 89%
Male 11%
Source: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Registration Data Table - March 2018
So why no media articles and recruitment campaigns recruiting more men?
What about the breakdown of gender for school teachers? Similar percentages I suspect. Anyone seen any media stunts from the Education department calling for more male teachers?
Check out the multiple defence force jobs advertised on SEEK clearly stating (Female opportunity)
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: The further
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Aug 1998
Location: ...second left, past the lights.
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
EXACTLY, Rated De! Couldn't have said it better myself.
These lawyers; accountants; fulltime Board-sitters (the list goes on) who think they can run an airline AND start feigning moral superiority via their virtue-signalling, expose themselves as real muppets and how out of touch they are.
We could no doubt, all start a long list here, of all the Regional and International airlines that have "gone with the wind" from such peoples "expertise".
P.S. I understand Tiger pilots were just hours off taking POI over their own agreement, long expired.
These lawyers; accountants; fulltime Board-sitters (the list goes on) who think they can run an airline AND start feigning moral superiority via their virtue-signalling, expose themselves as real muppets and how out of touch they are.
We could no doubt, all start a long list here, of all the Regional and International airlines that have "gone with the wind" from such peoples "expertise".
P.S. I understand Tiger pilots were just hours off taking POI over their own agreement, long expired.