Globally, women still make up a small share of the industry. In Malaysia, however, that picture is slowly shifting, with women now accounting for 36% of the workforce at the Malaysia Aviation Group.

Among them is Nur Ashikin Mohammad Ariff, the 41-year-old head of engineering at Firefly Airlines.

She is also the first woman in Malaysia to hold a Nominated Post Holder position approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia – a senior-management role that places her at the centre of regulatory accountability and operational safety.

It is a responsibility she does not take lightly. “Holding this position means if anything happens, you are answerable not just to the company but to the authorities as well,” she said.

Her path to that role was anything but conventional. In 2016, just 15 days after giving birth to her second child, Nur Ashikin made the journey from Sungai Petani in Penang to Subang Jaya, Selangor for a crucial interview tied to the newly introduced approval requirement.

The timing was far from ideal, but the stakes were high. The process was moving quickly, and postponing it would have meant missing a rare opportunity.

Today, she leads a 52-member team, ensuring compliance, safety and competency in an environment where precision is everything. And when the workday ends, she returns home to another demanding role as a mother of three.

It is a balancing act she manages with the support of her husband, a Malaysia Airlines pilot who understands the demands of the industry.

“My family is very supportive. That’s what makes it possible for me to carry these responsibilities,” she said.

Meanwhile, for 40-year-old Nurlin Mazlan, the journey has been less about breaking a glass ceiling and more about shifting her own mindset.

The maintenance operator with MAB Engineering believes opportunities for women are already present, but confidence can sometimes be the bigger hurdle.

“There is support, and there is room to grow,” she said.

What changed for her was learning to take chances. “I used to think I needed to meet every requirement before moving up,” she said. “But then I realised you can take on the challenge and learn along the way.”

Like many women in the industry, she balances her career with family life, supported by her husband, who is also an aircraft engineer.

She acknowledges that traditional expectations still exist, but sees signs of progress. “In our culture, those roles are still there, but we are moving forward, especially in my generation,” she said.

A dream fulfilled

For 25-year-old Ryani Airin Putri Wenas, her venture into aviation began with a dream that wasn’t initially her own.

Her mother had once hoped to become a flight attendant but had been unable to pursue it. Instead, she channelled that dream into her daughter.

“She has been preparing me since I was little,” Airin, who hails from Indonesia, said with a laugh.

From grooming habits to language skills, every detail mattered. “It may sound strict, but those lessons stayed with me,” she added.

Today, Airin is part of the Malaysia Airlines cabin crew, carrying both her own ambitions and her mother’s unfulfilled dream. She hopes to contribute to the airline’s push to reclaim the title of world’s best cabin crew.

From engineering floors to aircraft cabins, these women’s stories are not just about reaching new heights, but about redefining what is possible for the next generation.

Because for them, the sky is no longer the limit – it is where the journey begins.