easyJet launches partnership with Fantasy Wings

• New partnership provides 50 schools with fully-sponsored places for young people from black, asian and minority ethnic backgrounds and young women to join Fantasy Wings’ aviation career development programme
• The programme is designed to widen access to the industry through skills development, practical knowledge training, mentorship by industry leaders and even flight training  
• Young people aged 13-25 who are interested in taking up a career in aviation can register their interest now for this year’s programme which will launch in October

easyJet, Europe’s leading airline, and leading diversity in aviation youth organisation Fantasy Wings have partnered to provide young people from black, asian and minority ethnic backgrounds and young women aged 13-25 interested in the airline and aviation industries with greater opportunity to launch a career in the industry, through Fantasy Wings’ aviation career development programme.

To launch the partnership, easyJet is sponsoring places for students from 50 schools across the UK to join the programme, which is designed to equip young people with the necessary tools they need to succeed in the industry and land their first-time role through skills development, practical knowledge training, career mentorship by industry leaders and even flight training.

The launch of the partnership is part of easyJet’s ongoing wider Inclusion and Diversity commitments to create an inclusive culture where people are able to be themselves at work and perform at their best, and to drive a more diverse community within the airline and aviation as a whole.

Fantasy Wings is a UK-based organisation whose mission is to inspire young people who are interested in a career in aviation and grow awareness of the great range of careers of offer, from engineering and operations, to air navigation and of course, flying.

easyJet’s partnership with Fantasy Wings will also provide an opportunity for young people to gain a valuable insight into the airline’s operations through mentoring from current easyJet pilots and sessions with easyJet speakers, building upon existing mentorship commitments of a number of easyJet pilots, who have already been involved in mentoring young people on the Fantasy Wings programme.

The programme focuses on real-life experiences, skills development and networking opportunities that to provide genuine opportunity and career development through training and workshops, that will allow students to excel in the Airline Pilot and Aviation Industry. Students interested in flying also have the opportunity to be selected for a full Private Pilot Licence sponsorship.

The sponsorship will cover the 45 hour private pilot licence course and the examination fee for the selected young people.

Chris Brown, Training Captain at easyJet and Fantasy Wings mentor commented:
[i"Having been a long-time supporter of Fantasy Wings and seeing the fantastic work they do, we are incredibly proud to be launching this partnership by supporting young people on their aviation career development programme. We look forward to working with the Fantasy Wings team to see more young people from black, asian and minority ethnic backgrounds and young women interested in the airline and aviation industries to grow and excel in a career in aviation.”[/i]

Captain David Morgan, easyJet Chief Operating Officer commented:
“At easyJet, we strongly believe in an inclusive culture for everyone and that our people should reflect the diversity of our customers and the communities where we operate – not only does this make good business sense, it is simply the right thing to do. Ensuring we attract a diverse community of people to join us and that they thrive as part of the easyJet team is crucial and so we are delighted to be launching this partnership with Fantasy Wings and are confident that this will make a positive difference not only for those who join the programme, but for the industry as a whole.

“We hope to see those joining the programme becoming part of the easyJet team in the coming years and are excited for what the future of the easyJet and Fantasy Wings partnership holds.”

Jackson Smith, founder and CEO of Fantasy Wings commented:
“Increasing the representation within the aviation Industry is so important to us at Fantasy Wings. It is crucial that young people from diverse backgrounds are aware that not only is there a wealth of opportunities within aviation, but that they are readily available to them with no limitations or barriers.

“This is why we are so excited about our partnership with easyJet. Throughout our conversations easyJet have shown they are passionate about increasing representation within the industry but are also ready to take the necessary action. I am excited about our future ahead and working together to achieve our shared goals.”

This year’s Fantasy Wings programme is due to commence in October 2023 and enrolment will open to students between the ages of 13 and 25 who are based in the UK. Anyone wishing to find out more about the programme can register their interest now at fantasywings.co.uk/register.
 
For further information, please contact the easyJet Press Office on 01582 525252, log onto www.easyJet.com or follow @easyJet_Press

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 69 million passengers in 2022 – with 9.5 million travelling for business. The airline has over 300 aircraft on nearly 1000 routes to more than 150 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 over £16m for the most vulnerable children since it was established in 2012.

The airline joined the UN-backed Race to Zero in November 2021 and has published its roadmap to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with a focus on new technology and the ultimate ambition to achieve zero carbon emission flying across its entire fleet, which the airline is working on together with its partners including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, GKN Aerospace, Cranfield Aerospace Solutions and Wright Electric. The roadmap also features a combination of fleet renewal, operational efficiencies, airspace modernisation, Sustainable Aviation Fuel and carbon removal technology. Additionally, it includes an interim carbon emissions intensity reduction target of 35% by 2035 (versus 2019). Since 2000, the airline has already reduced its carbon emissions per passenger, per kilometre by one-third through continued fleet renewal, efficient operations and aiming to fill most of its seats.

Innovation is in easyJet’s DNA – since launching over 25 years ago, easyJet changed the way people fly to the present day where the airline leads the industry in digital, web, engineering and operational innovations to make travel more easy and affordable for its passengers.

About Fantasy Wings
Fantasy Wings is the leading UK organisation for diversity in Aviation. They run a programme which is designed to increase the opportunities for young people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and young women in the Aviation industry. They teach young people all about the world of Aviation, from how to become an Airline pilot, Aviation engineering all the way to Aviation Leadership.

At the end of the 10 month programme, three young people on their programme will receive the cost of training for their 45-hour Private Pilot Licence & the exam for their Private Pilot License funded by Fantasy Wings. 50 additional young people on their programme will receive a trial flying lesson fully funded by Fantasy Wings. This will be awarded at the end of the programme, at their Annual Conference.

They also provide consultation services to Aviation organisations on diversity and help them develop their internal recruitment practices / culture in order to achieve increased representation across all areas.

Fantasy Wings are committed to changing the statistics and creating more opportunities for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic students to become Airline Pilots and Aviation Professionals.