Spanish airline Iberia announced on Monday that it will recruit the first batch of pilots since the beginning of the pandemic. In July, it will add 20 first officers who will also become the first pilots coming from the Iberia Cadetes program, which the company launched in 2019.
The increase in personnel is aimed at meeting the increase in capacity programmed for the summer season. In addition, it plans to add another twenty pilots starting in October. All of them will come from the Flight Training Europe academy in Jerez
At these facilities, the airline carries out its training program for new pilots. Iberia Cadetes selects and trains candidates with the “best aptitudes and attitudes,” even if they have little or no previous flying experience. In addition, it offers all the necessary modules and supports the financing for obtaining the airline transport pilot license (ATPL).
Financial support is one of the highlights of the program. The high cost of training is one of the biggest obstacles for applicants. For this reason, some commercial airlines develop this type of program, which usually pays for part of the training. In return, students make a gradual refund of the contribution once they enter the labor market.
“The incorporation of new pilots at Iberia is very good news, the best sign that we are on the road to recover,” said Rafael Jiménez-Hoyos, Iberia’s Production Director.
In the same vein, the company also announced that it has reopened the call for all those interested in enrolling in the program. Applicants will be able to find out about the entry requirements and submit their application through the Iberia Cadetes and Flight Training Europe portal until July 3.
“This new call is undoubtedly a recognition of the success of the Iberia Cadetes program and reinforces the relationship we have maintained with the airline since we started working together in 2017,” said Óscar Sordo, CEO of Flight Training Europe Jerez.