easyJet reopens applications for 2024 Pilot Training Programme in drive to recruit 1000 new pilots

• easyJet reopens applications for 200 aspiring pilots to join its 2024 Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme, as part of drive for 1000 new pilots to join the airline by 2028
• With only 6% of pilots worldwide being women easyJet has been working to tackle stereotypes and misconceptions about the job and encourage more women to apply
• Two-year intensive pilot training course take place across Europe with flight training in the USA and graduates joining easyJet as newly qualified co-pilot. Aspiring pilots can apply today via becomeapilot.easyjet.com

easyJet has today announced that it has opened its renowned Generation easyJet Pilot Training programme, which takes aspiring pilots with little or no experience to the cockpit of an Airbus A320 commercial airliner in around two years as qualified co-pilot. Over 1000 new pilots are set to join easyJet by 2028 as part of a five year recruitment drive, with around 200 places now available this year. 

With still only around 6% of pilots worldwide being women, easyJet has been focused on tackling this industry-wide challenge for a number of years through initiatives including recruitment campaigns, its pilot school visits programme and Summer Flight School. 

As a result, 7.5% of easyJet’s pilots in the UK are women compared to the UK industry average of 6.5%, with around 300 women including 99 Captains now flying for the airline, which has continued to work on tackling stereotypes and misconceptions around the job and encouraging more women to apply. 

Earlier this month the airline launched an online test which assesses some of the key skills required to become an airline pilot, after research revealed that half of Brits (50%) don’t know what qualifications are needed to become an airline pilot and learn to fly a commercial jet. 

To apply to easyJet’s Pilot Training Programme, aspiring pilots need to be aged 18 or over by the time they begin training and have a minimum of 5 General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) of Grade C or above (or equivalent), including Mathematics, Science and English language – no higher qualifications or degrees are required. 

Training takes place with the airline’s training partner CAE at its aviation academy locations in Gatwick, Milan, Brussels, or Madrid, with flight training taking place in the US. On successful completion of training, graduates begin their careers flying as a co-pilot with easyJet.

Captain Kate West, Pilot Training Manager at easyJet said:

“We are delighted to reopen applications for this year’s Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme as part of our drive to recruit 1,000 new pilots and encourage more people to join this fantastic profession. 

“The training to become a pilot focuses on skills such as communication and problem solving, so when working as a team in the flight deck, diversity is incredibly valuable. 

“Tackling stereotypes about our job is critical to driving this and while we are proud to have many more women flying with us today, we know there is always more to be done to increase all forms of diversity and remain committed to leading the industry in this. 

“I joined easyJet over ten years ago as a growing airline with opportunities for career progression and a fantastic reputation for training. This is as true now as it was back then and we look forward to seeing many more new pilots joining easyJet in this rewarding career in the months and years to come.”

The Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme is now open for aspiring pilots to apply at Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme | CAE

ENDS

For further information, please contact the easyJet Press Office on 01582 525252, log onto www.easyJet.com or follow @easyJet_PressNotes to editors

Entry Criteria for applying to the Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme

1. Be aged 18 or over to commence training (by course start date)
2. The right to work with unrestricted access across EEA, EU, UK and Switzerland 
3. Hold a minimum of 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) Grade C or above, including maths, science and English language
4. Be fluent in English (verbal and written)
5. Minimum height 5’ 2” (157cm) with maximum commensurate with Airbus flight deck requirements
6. Be able to obtain an EASA or CAA Class 1 medical as required for the relevant license.

 About the programme:

The programme will take aspiring pilots from ground school training to the full-flight simulator under 2 years. Aspiring pilots, on easyJet Multi-Crew Pilot Licence (MPL) course will complete their ground school classes in one of CAE’s European aviation academy locations including CAE Brussels, CAE Madrid, CAE London Gatwick. They will then take to the skies, at a CAE fair weather flying location, before completing their training by learning to fly commercial jets on state-of-the-art full-flight simulators at CAE Milan and CAE London Gatwick training centres. Cadets will then join easyJet flying Airbus A320 aircraft across its network.

About easyJet

easyJet is Europe’s leading airline offering a unique and winning combination of the best route network connecting Europe's primary airports with great value fares and friendly service. easyJet flies on more of Europe’s most popular routes than any other airline and carried more than 82 million passengers in 2023 with more than 11.3 million travelling for business. The airline has over 300 aircraft flying on nearly 1000 routes to more than 155 airports across 35 countries. Over 300 million Europeans live within one hour's drive of an easyJet airport.

easyJet aims to be a good corporate citizen, employing people on local contracts in eight countries across Europe in full compliance with national laws and recognising their trade unions. The airline supports several local charities and has a corporate partnership with UNICEF which has raised nearly £17m for the most vulnerable children since it was established in 2012.

In 2022, easyJet published its roadmap to net zero by 2050. The roadmap, which also features a combination of fleet renewal, operational efficiencies, airspace modernisation, Sustainable Aviation Fuel and carbon removal technology, has set an ambitious interim carbon emissions intensity reduction target of 35% by 2035 which has been validated by the Science-based targets initiative (SBTi). The airline’s ultimate aim is to fully transition its fleet to zero carbon emission technology, which it will achieve through a number of strategic partnerships including with Airbus, Rolls-Royce and GKN Aerospace Solutions. Since 2000, the airline has successfully reduced its carbon emissions per passenger, per kilometre by one-third.  

Innovation is in easyJet’s DNA – since launching nearly 30 years ago, easyJet changed the way people fly to the present day where the airline leads the industry in digital and operational innovations to make travel more easy and affordable for its passengers. In 2023 easyJet was named by TIME as one of the World’s Best Companies and a Leader in Diversity 2024 by The Financial Times.