Tui is seeking applicants for the second year of a funded cadet pilot training scheme – saying that travel agents are welcome to apply.
The initiative opens a path for aspiring pilots to achieve their dreams with no upfront costs and very few formal qualifications required.
Chosen cadets will be able to enter the aviation sector without having to self-fund their training.
Applications are reopening for Tui to find future Boeing 737 pilots four months after the first cohort started their training.
The scheme aims to give opportunities to individuals who would not normally have the chance to become commercial pilots.
Applications for the 19-month course will be open from today (Monday) until January 31.
The travel group is looking for applicants who have “great communication and leadership skills, and have the ability to remain calm under pressure, resilience to work hard throughout a challenging course, and motivation to learn and ultimately develop into highly skilled professional pilots”.
The course includes phases of ground school and basic flying training before intermediate and advanced flight training.
Cadets are only liable for personal travel, food and living expenses.
Accommodation is provided from the second phase of the course together with all training costs, exam fees, equipment such as iPads, medicals and uniforms.
Applicants must have least five GCSEs including maths, English and a science at grade C/4 or above, or equivalent qualifications.
A spokesperson said: “The scheme allows successful candidates to become B737 pilots for Tui without having to pay for their training, and there’s no need for them to have any prior flying experience.
“The first cohorts had people join from all different types of careers. Travel agents are more than welcome to apply.”
Emma Longland, an in-flight manager at British Airways prior to joining the cadet scheme last year, said: “I had been trying to self-fund for a while and it really wasn’t going very well. It’s a lot of money to get through flight school and I was starting to lose a bit of hope.”
Maya Ghazal, who left Syria for the UK with her family in 2015, added: “I didn’t speak a word of English, I had no idea what the future would hold for me. But now that I’m here on this scheme, I really want to shine a light on the fact that the aviation industry is inclusive, diverse and welcoming to all.”