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January 15th, 2026

My dear Friends, Members & Partners,
Warm Greetings from Women in Aviation India!

At the very onset, I would like to wish each one of you a very Happy New year and a very special and heartfelt congratulations as Women in Aviation India, recently achieved a milestone - its 10th Anniversary on December 7th, 2025. I am extremely grateful for the trust and support from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, and it’s affiliated organisations over all these years and am very humbled and grateful for the selfless support of all our members who have stood strongly together with us, supporting us in a myriad ways in our mission. We are stronger, only because we are together!

My heartfelt message to the younger generation, is that ‘a journey of a thousand miles, starts with a single step’. This in many ways, sums up the story of my life. I did not achieve what I have achieved, in one day, I walked the mile, step by step, starting as a curious, inquisitive student who later became a teacher too. I always believed that knowledge is to be first gained and then shared with as many people as one possibly can. With this motto I thought of sharing my learnings and experiences and creating a team of women aviators who would join hands with me, and bring their unique experiences, skill and stories to the table, so that together we could add value, purpose and inspiration for young girls & women in our country. I firmly believe that if God gives you success, share it with others. Nothing is impossible in my vocabulary! Set a target, hurdles will surely come but you have to keep working towards it. You cannot give up. My life has been like a hurdle race. Hurdles never stop. And if I can do it, so can you!

I began my career as a teacher who sowed seeds of knowledge and hope, then as an entrepreneur, building not just a business, but a team that became my family, as a mother and a wife, I built a family that is my strength. I gave back to community and the industry that gave me so much, and even today I feel, my journey has just begun. And I will continue, step by step”

January is a month of quiet reflection, one where you pause and reflect at the year gone by, but most significantly, a time when you plan the new year ahead, your goals, your dreams for yourselves, your families, your professional lives and, also your role in the larger ecosystem, the industry at large. A new year truly is like the bud of a flower in a garden, unfolding slowly, and blooming steadily. January is the time to write a new chapter of your own story, of which you yourself are the protagonist!

When I look back at 2025, I cannot help but wonder at the turbulence and challenges that the industry and the country faced collectively. Nevertheless, we kept moving forward. We all know that India is shining on the global stage and all eyes are on us. Our strong and resilient aviation industry will continue to grow and so will the myriad roles and career opportunities in it.

2026 brings great promise and hope! Flight operations have commenced at the newly inaugurated Navi Mumbai International Airport and services at Noida International Airport and Bhogapuram International Airport are expected to begin shortly, which will open the doors of several opportunities for careers in aviation, including manufacturing and technology. Tomorrow looks robust and promising.

Our journey so far is a remarkable story of grit & determination as we, together with your invaluable support, hosted countless programs, reached out to thousands of girls across the country under the banner of Women in Aviation India,. encouraging them, mentoring them and also recognizing the achievement of several women in aviation who have carved a special place in the history of Indian aviation. These stories need to be shared, their voices need to be heard, and we at Women in Aviation India have done our best and continue to do the same.

This year we have already reached out to more than 800 students across 11 cities under the aegis of Girls in Aviation Day, reaching out to 11 new schools and institutions together with the support of the Hon’ble Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, airports, our passionate members and the support of dynamic corporate entities like Make My Trip and Millenium Aerodynamics. We are gearing up to celebrate our iconic awards – Giving Wings to Dreams - Celebrating the Achievements of Women in Aviation this summer.

As the new year has just begun, I would like to start with expressing my heartfelt gratitude to enthusiastic members and partners who contributed so meaningfully towards our journey. On a warm personal note, this brilliant teamwork reminds me of the beautiful lyrics of a popular song, ‘ek se do bhale, do se bhale char, manzil apni door hai, rasta karna par!’ I look forward to welcome new members to our family this year and wish each one of you a year full of meaningful growth, happiness and success.

Very warmly,
Radha Bhatia
President, Women in Aviation India.