British Airways has announced a £21 million investment in its Speedbird Pilot Academy, which will allow up to 200 aspiring pilots to train without the burden of self-funding the £100,000 cost.
The airline made the announcement at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow. The Speedbird Pilot Academy, launched last year, already supports 100 future pilots chosen from over 20,000 applicants.
The 2025 program has now doubled its intake to 200 cadets. The two-year training course will enable them to become qualified First Officers with the airline, which currently employs around 4,000 pilots.
“The standard of applicants we see for this programme are consistently high so as part of our commitment to attracting the very best candidates from right across society, we’ve increased the 2025 cohort to give as many people as possible the chance of realising their dream,” said Sean Doyle, British Airways Chairman and CEO.
Applicants must be 17-55 years old and have six GCSEs grade A-C or 5-9, including Maths, English, and a Science, or equivalent qualifications. Applicants need to be fluent in English and, if applicable, have achieved ICAO Level 6 on completion of training. Non-native English speakers must have an IELTS score of 5.5 overall, with no less than 5.5 in any individual area.
Training involves Ground School (six-eight months), Basic Flight Training (six months), Advanced Flight Training (four-six months), Upset Recovery Training (three flights), and Airline Pilot Standards Multi-Crew Cooperation Course (three-four weeks).
