Fifty new jobs will be created with the creation of a new Ryanair pilot training initiative in Cork.
Up to 450 new pilots from across Europe will be recruited and trained over the next five years in the partnership with Atlantic Flight Training Academy.
The intensive 16-month programme will provide trainees with a structured path to achieve their pilot licence and reach a standard where they are ready to join the airline’s Boeing 737 type-rating programme.
Pilots on the programme will be trained by academy instructors using Ryanair procedures as they take their first steps towards becoming pilots for the low-cost carrier.
The move came as Ryanair revealed a record summer schedule from the Irish airport for 2019 with new routes to Luton, Budapest, Malta and Poznan, more flights to Malaga.
A total of 16 routes will see the airline’s traffic from Cork rise by 20% to 1.1 million passengers.
Chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs said: “Ryanair is pleased to announce this training partnership with AFTA which has an impressive track record in training top-class pilots to the highest standards.”
Head of crew training, captain Andy O’Shea, added: “This new programme will provide the airline with a steady pipeline of talented and professional pilots from around Europe to meet the needs of our growing network.
“Ryanair will hire up to 1,000 pilots per annum over the next five years and our pilots can look forward to unmatched opportunities flying with the world’s number one international airline.”