easyJet announces plans to here 1000 new pilots with an ad campaign focused on challenging gendered stereotypes

• New ad campaign is designed to attract more diverse candidates and challenge stereotypes about becoming an airline pilot
• easyJet is re-launching its ‘Generation easyJet Pilot Training’ programme for the first time in two years since the start the Covid-19 pandemic
• A parent, former gymnast and DJ, who are also real life easyJet pilots, are the stars of a new ad campaign to encourage aspiring pilots to apply
• The ads showcase some of the skills needed to become a pilot and challenge stereotypes about the job, to show that they can be found in all walks of life
• The airline is recruiting for 1000 cadets over the next five years to train to become pilots and join the airline from 2024 onwards
• With still around only 6% of pilots worldwide being women, the airline remains focused on encouraging more women to become a pilot
• The new national ad campaign launches today across social media and will also roll-out  in Europe

London, UK, 2022-Feb-01 — /Travel PR News/ — A parent, a former gymnast and DJ are the stars of a new easyJet recruitment campaign, encouraging people from all walks of life to train to become an airline pilot.

For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, easyJet is re-opening its pilot training programme. To support future growth opportunities, the airline is recruiting over 1000 new pilots over the next five years.

The new ad campaign, featuring multi-talented, real-life easyJet pilots, aims to highlight that everyone has the potential to turn their skills and passions towards becoming an airline pilot.

Mother of two, Captain Iris de Kan, is seen in one of the ads with 5-year-old daughter Kiki. The ad serves to communicate that those with incredible multi-tasking skills could make for excellent pilots. While many parents wish they had eyes in the back of their head, it’s a common misconception that 2020 vision is required to become an airline pilot.

Former gymnast and now Senior First Officer with easyJet, Nina Le is featured performing a split leap on the tarmac, showcasing her fantastic reactions and hand-eye coordination – key skills for aspiring pilots.

easyJet Senior First Officer Aaron Moseley, a former resident DJ, transitioned from the club decks to the flight deck by training to become a pilot for easyJet seven years ago. His hands-on practical skills have enabled him to switch records for runways.

The new recruitment ad campaign is part of easyJet’s efforts to find the next generation of easyJet pilots, with a continued focus on encouraging more women to become an airline pilot to address the gender imbalance in the industry.

Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, said:

“We are delighted to be reopening our pilot training programme again for the first time since the pandemic hit and will see us recruit over 1000 new pilots in the coming years. easyJet has long championed greater diversity in the flight deck and this series of ads aims to highlight the extraordinary breadth of skills our pilots have and show that pilots can be found in all walks of life, in a bid to attract more diverse candidates.

“We continue to focus on challenging gendered stereotypes of the career having doubled the number of female pilots flying with us in recent years. We also acknowledge that whilst we have made progress, there is still work to do. Increasing diversity in all of its forms in the flight deck is a long-term focus for easyJet and so we will continue to ensure we lead the industry on this issue.”

Captain Iris de Kan said:

“It’s important that girls have visible role models so we can combat job stereotypes and show that anyone with the motivation and passion can turn their skills to being an airline pilot. I love the responsibility and challenge that comes with my job – but it’s not as challenging as juggling the demands of a five-year old and a little baby at home!”

Senior First Officer Aaron Moseley said: 

“I’m really proud to be a black man who is also a role model for the next generation. Growing up, I never had the chance to see or know a black airline pilot. I’m proud to be able to go into schools to talk to young people and show that you can develop skills through all kinds of experiences like music and sport that they can channel into becoming a pilot, and have the opportunities to achieve their dreams too.”

And gymnast turned Senior First Officer Nina Le said:

“Combining my love of travel with the practical skills I learnt on the gym floor really does make being a pilot the perfect match! I love my job and would really encourage anyone who loves a challenge – and of course great views – to consider it!”

Since the launch of the airline’s Amy Johnson Initiative in 2015, easyJet has almost doubled the number of female pilots in its ranks. Like many industries, the impact of the pandemic meant that the airline had to pause bringing new recruits onboard.

But now aiming to be back to near pre-pandemic levels this summer and much sooner than industry predictions suggested, easyJet has reopened its pilot training programme to bring 1000 new pilots onboard over the next five years. This will provide an opportunity to encourage even more women to consider the career and join the airline over the coming years. Many newly qualified female pilots are also now set to join the airline in coming months, with flying set to ramp up for the summer and beyond.

The airline continues to showcase inspiring role models like Iris, Nina and Aaron in its recruitment campaigns and get young people thinking about the career through its pilot school visits programme.

Over the last five years easyJet pilots have visited over 500 schools, colleges, and youth groups. Last year, as part of its continued work under its Amy Johnson Initiative, easyJet launched virtual school visits whilst the country was in lockdown meaning that when in person visits haven’t been possible, schools could request a virtual visit from an easyJet pilot to join classrooms via video link, providing young people across the UK with the opportunity to find out what the job of a pilot is really like. Many of the airline’s female pilots have been fronting the visits, aiming to show that it truly can be a job for everyone.

To apply to the Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme, aspiring pilots will 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. The Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme takes aspiring pilots from little to no flying experience, to operating a commercial passenger jet in around two years with its intensive, industry-leading training course.

The campaign launches from today across easyJet’s social media channels across the UK and Europe.

Aspiring pilots can find out more and apply today via becomeapilot.easyJet.com

Notes to editors

Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme

Entry Criteria:

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

Images to download here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzA9L6
Adverts to download here: https://we.tl/t-NZnxuojTs2

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 96 million passengers in 2019 – more than 16 million travelling for business. The airline has over 300 aircraft on nearly 1000 routes to more than 150 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 over £14m for the most vulnerable children since it was established in 2012.

The airline takes sustainability seriously and is committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions flying by 2050. Together with its partners, including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Cranfield Aerospace Solutions and Wright Electric, easyJet is working to accelerate the development of zero-emission aircraft technology. In the meantime, the airline is offsetting the carbon emissions from the fuel used for all its flights, at no additional cost to its customers, and only supports projects that are certified by Gold Standard or the Verified Carbon Standard, internationally recognised certification schemes. In addition, easyJet continues to renew its fleet, operate efficiently, and aims to fill most of its seats. Since 2000, over a 20-year period, the airline reduced its carbon emissions per passenger, per kilometre by over one-third, and aims to bring this down further.

Innovation is in easyJet’s DNA – since launching over 25 years ago, easyJet changed the way people fly to the present day where the airline leads the industry in digital, web, engineering and operational innovations to make travel more easy and affordable for its passengers.

The airline was named as Britain’s Most Admired Company of 2020 in the transport sector, retaining the leading position for a second year running. Britain’s Most Admired Companies study is the longest-running annual survey of corporate reputation in the UK.

Contact:

Press Office
01582 525252
www.easyJet.com
@easyJet_Press

Source: easyJet

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