easyJet set to expand state-of-the-art pilot training operations to support the airline’s growth

• easyJet is expanding its training capabilities at CAE London Gatwick and CAE Milan to support the airline’s growth strategy
• The airline will also begin training pilots at CAE Amsterdam
• This means easyJet will continue to train its pilots in the most advanced training devices available in the world
• The move will support the airline’s planned growth in the coming years including a new base opening in Southend in spring and planned expansion in Italy, subject to European Commission approval.

Europe’s leading airline easyJet has announced that it is expanding its flight training operations across Europe through its continued partnership with world-renowned training and simulation technology partner CAE.

The airline is expanding at existing CAE training facilities with two additional state-of-the-art full flight simulators in London Gatwick and one additional full flight simulator in Milan. easyJet is also beginning pilot training at CAE Amsterdam, which will house two full flight simulators exclusive to easyJet training operations. The additional full flight simulators will begin training operations from winter 2025.

The expansion will support easyJet’s continued growth across the UK and Europe. Next spring, the airline will open a new three-aircraft base at London Southend, alongside significant and strategic growth in Italy with new bases planned at Milan Linate and Rome, subject to the European Commission approval. easyJet will also take delivery of nine new Airbus A320 aircraft, following the delivery of 16 aircraft in its last financial year.

The move reinforces easyJet’s industry leading reputation for pilot training through its partnership with CAE, leveraging the latest generation technology. It means the airline’s pilot training facilities, with a fleet of 19 flight simulators across three countries, will be among the most modern in the world.

With the training centres operational for up to 20 hours a day during peak training periods, they will deliver the annual training needs for over 7000 easyJet pilots, including for newly-qualified pilots, recurrent training for experienced pilots and command upgrade courses - the training programme for experienced Senior First Officers to become Captains.

David Morgan, easyJet’s Chief Operating Officer, said:

“easyJet is a growing airline and expanding these Europe-wide training facilities in partnership with CAE will play a critical role in supporting this growth across our network. By continuing to utilise advanced technologies, we are ensuring our thousands of pilots across Europe are trained to the global industry leading standards we are recognised for. That’s why around 100 million customers choose to travel with us each year.

“We are pleased to continue working with CAE as a trusted global training provider, to help ensure easyJet is a centre of excellence for crew training.”

[i"We’re delighted to extend and expand our longstanding partnership with easyJet and to support their growth,” said [/i]Michel Azar-Hmouda, CAE Division President, Commercial Aviation “Through our state-of-the-art facilities and tailored training solutions, we’re shaping the future of aviation training while reaffirming our commitment to innovation, safety, and operational excellence.”

easyJet continues to expand its network and operations across Europe with 31 bases across eight countries and operating a fleet of over 340 A320 family aircraft. The airline flies over 1000 routes to over 160 destinations in 37 countries.

For further information, please contact the easyJet Press Office via mediacentre.easyJet.com/contacts or on 01582 525252

Notes to editors

easyJet uses CAE’s latest generation of flight simulators, including the CAE 7000XR FFS equipped with the CAE Tropos™ 6000XR visual system. It was also to utilise CAE’s latest generation of FTDs, the CAE 600XR, to train its pilots.

About easyJet

easyJet is Europe’s leading airline offering a unique and winning combination of the best route network connecting Europe’s primary airports with great value fares and friendly service.

easyJet flies on more of Europe’s most popular routes than any other airline and carried more than 82 million passengers in 2023 with more than 11.3 million travelling for business. The airline has over 300 aircraft flying on nearly 1000 routes to more than 155 airports across 35 countries. Over 300 million Europeans live within one hour’s drive of an easyJet airport.

easyJet aims to be a good corporate citizen, employing people on local contracts in eight countries across Europe in full compliance with national laws and recognising their trade unions. The airline supports several local charities and has a corporate partnership with UNICEF which has raised nearly £17m for the most vulnerable children since it was established in 2012.

In 2022, easyJet published its roadmap to net zero by 2050. The roadmap, which also features a combination of fleet renewal, operational efficiencies, airspace modernisation, Sustainable Aviation Fuel and carbon removal technology, has set an ambitious interim carbon emissions intensity reduction target of 35% by 2035 which is validated by the Science-based targets initiative (SBTi). The airline’s ultimate aim is to fully transition its fleet to zero carbon emission technology, which it will achieve through a number of strategic partnerships including with Airbus, Rolls-Royce and GKN Aerospace Solutions. Since 2000, the airline has successfully reduced its carbon emissions per passenger, per kilometre by one-third.  

Innovation is in easyJet’s DNA – since launching nearly 30 years ago, easyJet changed the way people fly to the present day where the airline leads the industry in digital and operational innovations to make travel more easy and affordable for its passengers.

In 2023 easyJet was named by TIME as one of the World’s Best Companies and a Leader in Diversity 2024 by The Financial Times.

About CAE

At CAE, we equip people in critical roles with the expertise and solutions to create a safer world. As a technology company, we digitalize the physical world, deploying software-based simulation training and critical operations support solutions. Above all else, we empower pilots, cabin crew, maintenance technicians, airlines, business aviation operators, and defence and security forces to perform at their best every day and when the stakes are the highest. Around the globe, we’re everywhere customers need us to be with approximately 13,000 employees in more than 240 sites and training locations in over 40 countries. CAE represents more than 75 years of industry firsts—the highest-fidelity flight and mission simulators as well as training programs powered by digital technologies. We embed sustainability in everything we do. Today and tomorrow, we’ll make sure our customers are ready for the moments that matter.

Read our FY24 Global Annual Activity and Sustainability Report

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