Spanish airline Iberia has dedicated one of its Airbus A320neo aircraft to Bettina Kadner with a special livery. She worked for Iberia for 20 years and she was the first woman in Europe to fly a commercial passenger plane. Even today, she remains an icon of Spanish aviation.
Bettina Kadner Breaks Barriers
Bettina Kadner was born in 1946 in Madrid, Spain. At age 22, in 1969, she became the first European woman to pilot a passenger plane. Then, in 1998, she became the first female pilot in command in Spain, and also the second female pilot in command in Europe. She began her career at Spantax, one of Spain’s first airlines to include women in its staff. After facing many obstacles and difficulties in what was a nearly male-exclusive field, she joined Iberia in 1985, and from then on until 2006, she flew for Iberia until her retirement.
After revealing the new livery for its Airbus A320neo aircraft, with a capacity of 186 passengers, Iberia got in touch with Kadner and showed her around the plane, allowing her to relive her revolutionary career and inspire a new generation of women at Iberia.
Iberia Commemorates Kadner’s Legacy
Marco Sansavini, President of Iberia, said the following on the commemorative livery:
“It is an honour that one of our aircraft carries Bettina Kadner’s name. In this way, we can always remember that there was a woman who forged her own path, opening doors for those who came after her. We are also leaving a message for the future, a message that clearly states that, at Iberia, we believe in diversity, equal opportunities and working to inspire the next generation.”
Kadner thanked the airline, where she worked for two decades, for naming one of its planes after her and recalled at how she aspired to be a pilot from a young age; at just 12 years old, she knew she had a passion for flying planes. She has inspired and asked for more women to enter the profession.
Have you been inspired by Bettina Kadner’s story? Do you think Iberia’s new livery is a fitting tribute for such an icon of the Spanish aviation industry? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
