• Hitit is a signatory of the 25by2025 initiative launched by IATA to ensure gender balance in the aviation industry.
• Hitit, where 50 percent of the Board of Directors, 65 percent of the management team and 35 percent of employees are women, is among the exemplary signatories of the initiative.
The 25by2025 initiative, launched by IATA, the international organization of the aviation industry, which aims to bring the representation of women in the industry to at least 25 percent by 2025, continues to grow. Hitit, Turkiye's international representative in airline and travel technologies, proudly became a signatory of the initiative. Founded in 1994 by two female partners Nur Gökman and Dilek Ovacık, Hitit has women representing 50 percent of its Board of Directors, 65 percent of its management team and 35 percent of its employees. Serving at the intersection of technology and aviation, Hitit stands out as one of the exemplary companies that has succeeded in raising the gender balance above the general criteria, considering the male-dominated employment structure in both technology and aviation.
Only 5 out of 1,000 girls under the age of 15 want to work in the IT sector
Speaking at the signing ceremony held at the "Wings of Change Europe" event organized by IATA in Istanbul, Nevra Onursal Karaağaç, CMO at Hitit, said: "Today, only 5 out of 1,000 girls under the age of 15 want to work in information technology. While the rate of men working in machine learning is 88 percent, only 12 percent are women and only 2 percent of patents in information technologies belong to women. When it comes to mobile app and software programming, women make up less than 6 percent. Only 25 percent of mid-level management positions in S&P 500 companies and large technology companies are held by women."
Hitit's female rates are above the global average
Noting that Hitit, which has focused on diversity and inclusion since its establishment, is one of the few companies that have managed to reverse the trend against women in technology, Karaağaç continued as follows: "Founded 28 years ago by two women who set out to write their own story in the field of airline and travel technologies despite everything, Hitit today provides software services in passenger services, operations, accounting and travel solutions to more than 60 airline companies on 6 continents. Annually, 77 million passengers travel using Hitit systems. Hitit, one of the world's leading companies in its field, has managed to maintain female dominance for 28 years. We have the highest ratio of female managers among publicly listed companies in the software sector in Türkiye. With these rates, which are above global averages, we are shown as an example not only in Turkiye but also in the world. I am proud to be a part of such a company."
Diversity and inclusion are reflected in our social responsibility approach
Emphasizing that the approach to diversity and inclusion is not limited to employment, Karaağaç stated that as a company, they shape their approach to social responsibility in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Karaağaç said, "We aim to reduce opportunity inequalities with the steps we take in the field of education. We try to take part in projects that support gender equality in education. We train women in STEM through the associations and platforms we are a member of. We prioritize young women in internships and recruitment and contribute to their development by providing mentorship and scholarship opportunities. With our Rackets Up project, we aim for girls and boys to participate in sports equally."
About 25by2025
25by2025 was launched by IATA to raise awareness of improving female representation in the aviation industry. A voluntary initiative, 25by2025 signatories include THY and Pegasus Airlines from Turkiye. ASL Airlines Belgium, ASL Airlines France, ASL Airlines Ireland, FlySafair APG Network, Azerbaijan Airlines, Grupo SATA, Wingie Enuygun Group, FLYONE, La Compagnie, Northern Pacific, SunExpress, Travelport, World2Fly, Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan, Lithuanian Civil Aviation Authority, and Riga International Airport.