A team of 40 British Airways apprentices dispatched a flight to South Africa in a first for the airline.
As part of National Apprenticeship Week, they worked across a variety of roles for the departure of a Boeing 777 from Heathrow to Cape Town.
Apprentices were stationed across check-in, lounges and at the boarding gate, to support more than 300 passengers as they prepared to depart.
Ground operations apprentices supported with baggage handling and engineering tasks to ensure the aircraft was ready for departure.
The airline’s apprentice scheme, now in its 13th year, has seen a 75% increase in applicants, with 4,500 in 2023 compared to 2,562 a year earlier.
The airline is offering 290 apprenticeship positions a year compared with 30 in 2011.
The next cohort of apprenticeships will open for applications in October.
Apprentices who join BA begin work in ten area-focused roles across the business areas of customer, business and operations.
Successful applicants have the opportunity to work alongside experienced airline colleagues, engage in real-world aviation projects and receive valuable mentorship to kickstart and develop their careers.
BA global learning academy director Rachel Iley said: “This landmark flight demonstrates the integral role apprentices play in our workforce and the opportunities available to those who join British Airways on one of our schemes.
“Our talented apprentices bring a fresh perspective to our airline, and their ideas and enthusiasm will help propel us into the future.”