easyJet launches new cabin crew recruitment drive to tackle UK youth unemployment

Low-cost carrier easyJet has begun its latest cabin crew recruitment drive, offering ‘Flight Paths’ taster sessions as part of its 2025 recruitment drive aimed at 18–24 year-olds to help tackle the spike in youth unemployment in the UK. The drive is aiming to target young British people who are classed by the UK Government as not ‘not in employment, education or training’ (also known as ‘NEETs’) to give their careers a head start and to display how accessible and rewarding a job as cabin crew for easyJet can be.

Through the program, the airline is seeking to recruit nearly 1,000 new cabin crew for the summer of 2026 as part of its annual recruitment drive, and is encouraging young adults and school leavers, many of whom will have just received their higher school examination results and will be considering the next steps on their career path.

An easyJet statement says that, “the Flight Paths initiative follows the latest UK Office for National Statistics figures which reveal that nearly one million young people in the UK are currently classed as NEETs, accounting for 12.5% of the UK’s youth population – something cabin crew recruitment and sectoral growth could help bring down.”

easyJetHowever, new research commissioned by easyJet of 2,000 Brits aged 16-24 shows that there are still misconceptions around the role of cabin crew, which are preventing young people from pursuing it as a career. Indeed, a considerable 92% were unaware that there are no minimum educational qualifications required to apply for the job, with two out of three (66%) young British people believing they would be underqualified for cabin crew training. As a result, almost nine in ten (88%) of 16 to 24-year-olds have never considered a career working for an airline, even though over half (59%) say they’d be interested in an aviation career.

The research also reveals that 89% of young men believe there is still a misconception that cabin crew is typically a role for women. As a result, around a third (38%) of British men say they previously wouldn’t consider doing the job because of the traditional gender stereotypes around the role.

Markus Mainka / ShutterstockBreaking down barriers

The airline’s statement, along with the course program, addresses these issues. “To break down these barriers, easyJet will be opening the doors of its London Gatwick Training Centre this summer to offer free hands-on taster sessions, providing the opportunity to find out more about the job directly from the airline’s cabin crew and training experts.”

“The sessions will showcase how the job is a great opportunity to gain valuable life skills such as communication, team management, and problem-solving, while providing travel opportunities and career progression, with one in four (26%) 18 to 24 year-olds saying they would be interested in a job that includes travel abroad, and 28% keen for a career that would involve being part of a team.

easyJetThe Flight Paths initiative is the latest in easyJet’s ongoing work to support early career and youth employment, including its Enterprise Advisors Program which sees easyJet employees from across the business including Engineering, IT, Data and Operations partnered with local schools in the Luton and Gatwick areas, where the airline has its largest UK operations, to provide careers advice and employability support to young people.

“We want to show young people that being cabin crew 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,” said Michael Brown, Director of Cabin Services at easyJet. “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.”

easyJetUK Government support

The UK Government’s Aviation Minister, Mike Kane, added his support to the program, commenting, “It is 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.”

Natalie Puncher, who joined easyJet as Cabin Crew after leaving school in 2002 and is now the airline’s Head of Customer and Inflight Standards, added, “I joined easyJet as cabin crew a year after leaving school 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.”

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