Air India Creates History, Allows Women Pilots to Fly Over North Pole; World's Longest Air Route

By: WE Team | Friday, 8 January 2021

Air India's all-women pilot team would fly over the North Pole on the world's longest air route and the flight from San Fransico (SFO) will reach Bengaluru on January 9 covering a distance of about 16,000 kilometers.

Air India official says, "Flying through the North Pole is very challenging and airline companies send their best and experienced pilots on this route. This time Air India has given responsibilities to a woman captain for the journey from San Fransico to Bengaluru via polar route."

AI Captain Zoya Agarwal, who will be commanding the flight, and her team is very eagerly waiting to create history on January 9.

Captain Zoya Agarwal "Most people in the world will not see the North Pole or even its map in their lifetime. I feel truly feel privileged and humbled by the trust posed in me by the civil aviation ministry and our flag carrier. It is a golden opportunity to command a Boeing 777 inaugural SFO-BLR, one of the world's longest flight over the North Pole."

"I am extremely proud to have with me an experienced women team comprising Captains Thanmai Papagari, Akanksha Sonawane, and Shivani Manhas. This is the first time an all-women pilot's team will fly over the North Pole and create a history of sorts. It's indeed a dream come true for any professional pilot," she added.

Captain Zoya further adds, "The thrill of actually realizing that you will be passing the North pole where the compass will flip 180 degrees...something which is fascinating indeed. I am the youngest woman commander in the world on Boeing 777. Women should have self-belief even if they face societal pressure not consider any task impossible."

The longest flight over the North Pole will be another feather in her cap as she was the youngest woman pilot to fly a Boeing-777 in 2013.

She will become the first woman commander of Air India to command flight over the North Pole. Though Air India pilots have flown over polar route earlier also, it is for the first time a team of women pilots will fly over the North.