Prime Highlights-
- easyJet has appointed Skyborne Airline Academy as its official UK training partnerunder a five-year pilot hiring plan.
- The airline aims to recruit 1,000 new pilots over the next five years, with 500 cadets training through Skyborne.
Key Facts-
- Training will take place at Skyborne’s centres in Gloucestershire, Bournemouth and Vero Beach, Florida.
- The programme is self-funded at around £115,000, and successful candidates will receive a conditional job offer as first officerswith easyJet.
Background-
easyJet has appointed Skyborne Airline Academy as its official UK training partner as part of a five-year plan to recruit 1,000 new pilots, strengthening its long-term workforce pipeline amid rising demand for aviation talent.
Under the agreement, 500 cadets will train through Skyborne’s Integrated ATPL route under the easyJet FlightCrew Futures Programme, while the remaining 500 will continue to train through the airline’s existing partner, CAE, under the Multi Pilot Licence route. The move forms part of easyJet’s wider pilot recruitment target over the next five years.
The Integrated ATPL route is a conventional entry-level pilot training programme that takes candidates from little or no flying experience to a frozen Air Transport Pilot’s Licence. The course includes classroom instruction, flight training in light aircraft, simulator sessions and airline preparation before trainees move into line flying.
Training under the new partnership will take place at Skyborne’s facilities in Gloucestershire, Bournemouth and Vero Beach, Florida. Successful applicants under the FlightCrew Futures Programme will receive a conditional job offer as first officers with easyJet after meeting the required standards.
The programme remains self-funded, with training costs estimated at around £115,000. Despite the cost, the direct pathway to a cockpit role is expected to attract candidates looking for a structured route into commercial aviation.
Skyborne said the partnership marks an important step in its training expansion and reflects confidence in its ability to deliver airline-ready pilots. easyJet said the tie-up will create more opportunities for aspiring pilots and support the airline’s future growth plans across Europe.
The announcement comes as airlines across Europe continue to strengthen recruitment and training efforts to meet long-term operational demand and address pilot shortages in the sector.
