Women in Aviation Conference Hits Record Attendance in Texas

Annual event celebrates global community, scholarship milestones, and future pathways for females in flight.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The exhibit hall at the 2026 Women in Aviation Conference in Grapevine, Texas [Credit: WAI]

Key Takeaways:

The WAI Conference set a new attendance record with 5,500 global attendees, reflecting the organization's substantial growth to 20,000 members across 112 countries.
Women in Aviation International (WAI) awarded over $610,000 in scholarships this year and launched new initiatives like the Global Access Program to break down barriers and create pathways for women in the industry.
The event featured inspiring keynote speakers, inducted three pioneers into the WAI International Pioneer Hall of Fame, and offered various seminars for professional development.
The conference concluded with "Girls in Aviation Day," engaging 200 youths aged 8-18 in hands-on activities to foster interest and careers in aerospace.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The Women in Aviation International (WAI) Conference set a new attendance record during its 37th annual event at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, drawing 5,500 attendees from around the globe.

The three-day event, held March 19-21, featured members from 18 countries, including Kenya, Korea, and the United Kingdom. WAI CEO Lynda Coffman highlighted the organization’s growth, noting its 20,000 members across 112 countries and its expanding impact on the industry.