การวิเคราะห์ทัศนคติของผู้โดยสารและปัจจัยที่มีอิทธิพลต่อการยอมรับบทบาทเชิงวิชาชีพของนักบินพาณิชย์หญิงในอุตสาหกรรมการขนส่งทางอากาศของไทย

Krit  Witthawassamrankul; Ganyanat  Nattamangkang; Sudarath   Tolanuwat; Iratrachar  Amornpipat

doi:10.60027/iarj.2026.e296625

Authors

Krit Witthawassamrankul Kasem Bundit University, Thailand https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9267-8451
Ganyanat Nattamangkang Kasem Bundit University, Thailand https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5216-9250
Sudarath Tolanuwat Kasem Bundit University, Thailand https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2142-8420
Iratrachar Amornpipat Kasem Bundit University, Thailand https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1223-5657

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60027/iarj.2026.e296625

Keywords:

Social Acceptance, Female Commercial Pilots, Gender Equality, Aviation Business, Passenger Behavior

Abstract

Background and Aims: The acceptance of female commercial pilots in Thailand is important for promoting gender equality and women’s rights in a highly specialized profession, while simultaneously expanding the aviation human resource base to address pilot shortages in the aviation industry. Moreover, it contributes to enhancing the international image of Thai airlines. This research aimed to examine the factors influencing the acceptance of the role of Thai female commercial pilots, to explore Thai passengers’ perceptions and experiences with female pilots, and to compare levels of acceptance based on passengers’ personal characteristics and travel experiences in Thailand.

Methodology: The sample consisted of 400 Thai passengers aged 18 years and above who had previously used airline services operating in Thailand. Quota sampling was employed by allocating equal numbers of respondents to each generational group, with 100 participants per group. This quantitative study collected data using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, including mean, frequency, percentage, and standard deviation, were used to summarize the data. Inferential statistics, including F-tests and one-way analysis of variance (One-Way ANOVA), were applied to examine differences among groups.

Results: The findings revealed that Thai passengers demonstrated the highest level of acceptance of the role of Thai female commercial pilots (M = 4.28, S.D. = 0.702). This high level of acceptance reflected strong confidence in female pilots’ professional competence and skills, aviation safety, travel behavior and service selection, social and family acceptance, gender equality and role modeling, as well as policy support and promotion. In terms of travel experience, passengers who traveled by air one to three times per year generally reported having flown with Thai female commercial pilots one to two times. Their awareness of female pilots was mainly derived from airline publicity and personal experience with low-cost airline services. Furthermore, comparisons of acceptance levels revealed statistically significant differences at the 0.05 level based on gender, age group or generation, education level, frequency of air travel, experience flying with female pilots, sources of information, and type of airline service used.

Conclusion: Thai passengers exhibited a very high level of acceptance of Thai female commercial pilots. However, acceptance levels differed significantly according to personal characteristics and travel experiences. The findings suggest that airlines can utilize these results to develop policies and communication strategies that enhance public confidence in aviation safety and reinforce the professional competence and skills of female commercial pilots. In addition, the results can support efforts to promote gender equality by highlighting and strengthening the professional roles of female pilots in the aviation industry.

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