AirAsia’s Yap Mun Ching named ICAO Global Ambassador for aviation talent

AirAsia’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Yap Mun Ching, has been designated an Ambassador under the International Civil Aviation Organization’s newly launched Global Ambassadors Programme (IGAP).

The designation recognizes her work advancing sustainable aviation and developing talent within the industry.

Addressing a growing talent gap

The program, known as IGAP, was launched by ICAO, the United Nations aviation agency, in March 2026 to help attract skilled and diverse talent to the aviation sector. 

The initiative comes as the industry braces for major growth: under ICAO’s 2026-2050 Strategic Plan, global air passenger traffic is projected to nearly triple, climbing from 4.6 billion in 2024 to 12.4 billion by 2050. Much of that growth is expected to come from the Asia Pacific region, which already accounts for 35% of global air traffic and could represent half of it by mid-century.

According to AirAsia, that kind of expansion will require far more pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, and maintenance technicians than the industry currently has in its pipeline. 

The Global Ambassadors Programme is designed to help close that gap by enlisting aviation leaders to encourage young people, and particularly women, to consider careers in the field.

Yap’s two-year term runs from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2028, following a nomination from Malaysia’s Ministry of Transport. She joins a group of aviation professionals chosen to support ICAO’s long-term strategic goals.

A personal mission to open doors

In a statement, Yap said she was honored by the designation and thanked the Ministry of Transport for the nomination. She pointed to the potential of young talent across the region and said she hopes to encourage more of them, especially young women, to pursue careers in aviation. 

Reflecting on her own experience working her way up in a field once dominated by men, she said she wants to show the next generation that they can not only enter the industry but lead within it.

A track record of building diverse talent

The recognition builds on AirAsia’s existing efforts around diversity and workforce development. 

The airline hired its first female pilot in 2002, and women now make up 8.3% of its flight crew, above the global industry average of roughly 5 to 6%. Women also account for 29% of AirAsia’s information and communications technology team.

Yap’s own career path reflects that kind of internal mobility. She started at AirAsia as a route planner before moving into leadership roles spanning fleet planning, airline strategy, and corporate foundation work. 

She currently oversees environmental strategy across AirAsia’s seven airlines operating in five countries, and has chaired Malaysia’s National CORSIA Task Force since 2022. She also serves as a technical expert on ICAO’s Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection, where she contributes to international environmental standards and frameworks for the aviation sector.

About the ICAO Global Ambassadors Programme

The IGAP brings together aviation leaders and experts who engage with students, women, and underrepresented communities to build interest in aviation careers. 

It also supports ICAO’s broader goal of ensuring the benefits of aviation reach every country, not just the wealthiest ones. The program was made possible through a voluntary contribution from the United Kingdom.

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