Tui aims to increase the diversity of its pilots with the launch of a new training programme.
In its first year, the Multi-Crew Pilot Licence (MPL) cadet programme will train 30 pilots over an 18-month period, beginning with ground training, followed by basic flying and then advanced flying.
Tui will not require candidates to pay any upfront training costs, as it aims to reduce barriers to entry for candidates unable to pay the fees.
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Marco Ciomperlik, chief airline officer of Tui Group, said: “I’m delighted we’re launching this scheme in the UK and looking forward to welcoming our pilots of the future.
“Diversity is firmly on our agenda at Tui and we’re keen to attract new talent from all different walks of life and challenges ourselves and to think differently in other areas such as innovation, sustainability, engineering and, ultimately, in delivering for our customers.”
Pilots’ union Balpa said it “applauds” Tui’s effort to “address the potential weaknesses in the MPL route into our profession”, and said it “wholeheartedly supports the active intention to broaden the backgrounds of candidates becoming professional pilots”.
Martin Chalk, Balpa general secretary, said: “The best indicators of future star aviators are aptitude to learn the skills required and professional determination – not access to six figure sums of money or gender, religion or cultural heritage.”
Malcolm Sutherland, managing director of Tui Airways and Tuifly Nordic, said he hopes the scheme will help tackle the “huge barrier to entry” some demographics face when trying to become a pilot.
“Diversity amongst airline pilots remains low across the whole industry,” he said. “Many industry schemes have sought to address this, but the circa £100,000 cost of pilot training remains a huge barrier to entry and restricts the diversity and demographics of those entering the industry.
“Our cadet scheme will address this, providing the opportunity to become a pilot without a requirement to pay any upfront costs for training.”
Aviation minister Baroness Vere added: “Schemes like this are exactly what is needed to drive new rounds of recruitment, getting young people into aviation and building a workforce that reflects Britain’s diversity.