(NEWS) AMSTELVEEN, the Netherlands, 2025-Dec-19 — /Travel PR News/ — KLM is introducing a new funding model for its Flight Academy that significantly lowers financial barriers for aspiring pilots while guaranteeing successful graduates a position with the airline. As outlined in the company’s press release, from January 2026, students who complete their training at the KLM Flight Academy (KLMFA) will not only secure a direct pathway into the cockpit at KLM but will also benefit from a financing structure designed to make pilot training accessible to a wider and more diverse pool of talent.
Under the new arrangement, prospective pilots will no longer need to fund their training upfront. Instead, participants starting their programme from 1 January 2026 can choose to link the cost of their education to their future earnings at KLM. Once they begin working for the airline, their gross monthly salary will include a fixed training contribution, spread over a period of 120 months, allowing graduates to repay their training costs gradually as part of their employment.
KLM says the initiative is a strategic response to the airline’s long-term demand for pilots, as well as a practical solution for candidates who have the skills and ambition required but lack the financial means to pursue flight training independently. By removing the need for substantial personal investment at the outset, the airline aims to broaden access to the profession and support its recruitment ambitions in the years ahead.
Eimerd Bult, Executive Vice President of KLM Flight Operations, described the new funding structure as a decisive step for both future pilots and the airline. He said the arrangement ensures that talent and motivation, rather than personal financial circumstances, determine who can train at the KLM Flight Academy, while also helping KLM meet its growing need for pilots.
The airline has worked closely with the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration to establish the new financing framework and ensure it complies with national regulations. Pilots’ union VNV has also been involved in the process, with specific transitional arrangements agreed for pilots who complete their training at the KLM Flight Academy between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2025.
