Yvonne Kershaw Becomes the First British Woman to Captain a Boeing 747

In 1994, Virgin Atlantic pilot Yvonne Kershaw became the first British woman to captain a Boeing 747, achieving an important first in British commercial aviation. Her appointment placed her in command of one of the world's largest passenger aircraft at a time when women remained significantly underrepresented in senior airline pilot roles. The achievement was an important moment in our airline's history and a notable step forward for women in aviation. As a Boeing 747 captain, Kershaw held responsibility for the safe operation of the aircraft, its crew and passengers on our long-haul services. Her achievement demonstrated the growing opportunities for female pilots to progress into senior flight deck positions traditionally held by men. Kershaw remained closely associated with Virgin Atlantic's Boeing 747 operations. In December 2020, she was among the pilots invited to share their experiences as we prepared to retire the aircraft type from our fleet, reflecting her longstanding connection with the Boeing 747 and its place in our history.