U.K. budget carrier easyJet has pledged to double the percentage of prospective female pilot candidates from the current 6 percent to 12 percent over the next two years. In her inaugural address to the British Air Transport Association last week, Carolyn McCall said the airline will actively recruit female pilots. “We will highlight the opportunities of pilot careers to young, female audiences, especially schools and colleges,” McCall said.She also said the carrier, one of Europe’s largest low-cost airlines, would put up some money to help the cause.
“We will work with our pilot training providers to attract more women to apply for the cadet programme. And we are introducing 10 places for women each year on a training programme with the training loan of 100,000 underwritten by easyJet. We will also give further support to our current female pilots, so they can take on leadership roles in training and base management. I hope the industry as a whole will put their support behind this.”
