easyJet Hoping To Land 1,000 Young Cabin Crew Members

Budget airline easyJet has launched a major recruitment drive to take on almost 1,000 new cabin crew in 2026 - and the roles are open to school leavers and other young people with no prior qualifications.

The airline is particularly encouraging applications from young adults who are not currently in education, employment or training (NEETs). Many students may not realise just how accessible cabin crew jobs are.

According to research by the airline, over 90 per cent of 16-24s didn’t know there are no minimum educational requirements to apply. Two-thirds also wrongly assumed they would be under-qualified.

As part of its new ‘Flight Paths’ initiative, easyJet is working to challenge stereotypes about the cabin crew profession and make it more appealing to young people starting out in their careers.

Research showed that 89 per cent of young men still believe cabin crew is viewed as a female role, with more than a third admitting they had previously dismissed it because of those stereotypes.

The survey also highlighted what many young adults actually want from work; around one in four 18–24 year olds are interested in jobs that involve travel, while over a quarter said they’d enjoy being part of a team - both key features of life as cabin crew.

As a result, most young people (nearly 9 in 10) have never even considered applying for a job with an airline, despite the fact that the role offers travel opportunities, teamwork and career progression.

To help break down stereotypes and misconceptions about the role, easyJet will also be running free taster sessions at its new Gatwick training centre this summer, where prospective applicants can meet crew members and try hands-on activities.

Launching the recruitment drive for young people next year, easyJet’s director of cabin services, Michael Brown, said: “We want to show young people that being a cabin crew member is more than just a job. It’s a career filled with variety, teamwork and opportunity, which has so much to offer to so many people as well as offering a pathway to progress in working within our wider industry too.”

“If you have enthusiasm, people skills and a willingness to learn something new, our taster sessions could be the perfect first step towards a new opportunity. We can’t wait to welcome a new generation of cabin crew on board,” added Mr Brown.

Mike Kane, the UK’s Minister for Aviation, welcomed the news, saying: “It’s fantastic to see British firm easyJet investing in our young people, encouraging and inspiring them into careers in aviation. We are determined to break down barriers to opportunity in the UK to deliver our Plan for Change so everyone can pursue and progress in rewarding careers.”

Speaking of her own experience of more than 20 years with the airline, easyJet’s head of customer and inflight standards, Natalie Puncher, said: “I joined easyJet as a cabin crew member a year after leaving school [2002] and it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

“I’ve gained so much confidence, met amazing people and travelled to places I never thought I’d see, all while building a career. Every day is different and I’ve learnt skills that I’ll carry with me for life,” added Ms Puncher.

For students looking for entry level jobs that combine travel, people skills and on-the-job training, this could be a great first step to ‘taking off’ in an aviation career.

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