British Airways plans to take on more than 800 new pilots in its biggest flight-crew recruitment drive in more than a decade.
The airline aims to add the new recruits over five years and is using YouTube as one of the methods to attract new flyers.
BA is introducing a Future Pilot Programme to help people to train to become pilots. It also aims to encourage qualified pilots from other airlines to join. A joint initiative will run with the UK armed forces to provide military pilots with a career path into commercial aviation.
The Future Pilot Programme will help about 400 applicants gain a place at an approved flight-training school, with successful candidates landing a job as a BA pilot.
The programme will help students secure funding to train as pilots, which can cost up to £100,000.
The airline is also using YouTube as a recruitment tool for the first time via http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YDisvgzzLo
Successful trainees will attend one of three flight training colleges in the UK and Spain, with initial training fees covered by sponsor company, Airline Placement Ltd, with BA acting as guarantor.
Head of pilot recruitment Captain Robin Glover said: “The Future Pilot Programme is a fantastic opportunity for anyone, from any background to realise their ambition of becoming a pilot and flying for British Airways. By removing the barrier of initial training costs and making it more accessible to a wider range of people, we hope to be able to attract the very best talent out there.”