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Airline cadet programmes

LAUNCH YOUR CAREER AS AN AIRLINE PILOT

Cadet schemes are the quickest way from zero hours to an airline seat, but they aren't all the same deal. Some airlines pay for everything, some take it back from your salary, and some put their logo on a £100,000 course you fund yourself. Answer four questions and we'll show you the ones you can actually apply for.

Alaska Airlines
Ascend Pilot Academy
Alaska and Horizon's academy with Hillsboro Aero. You fund your PPL, Horizon puts $27,000 towards your commercial licence, and the rest runs on a secured loan.
Pathway
Apply →
Republic Airways
LIFT Academy
Republic's own flight school in Indianapolis. About $97,000, offset by subsidies and loan help if you commit to flying for Republic.
Integrated
Apply →
SkyWest Airlines
Pilot Pathway Program
Tuition reimbursement and a guaranteed final interview for students at SkyWest's partner flight schools.
Pathway
Apply →
Southwest Airlines
Destination 225° Cadet Pathway
Train at CAE Phoenix, instruct to build hours, and work towards a Southwest 737 seat. Four to five years in total.
Pathway
Apply →
JetBlue
Gateway Select
JetBlue's zero-to-airline route with CAE. About $110,000 and three and a half years, including instructing to build hours.
Pathway
Apply →
Air Canada Express (Jazz)
Jazz Approach with CAE
Twenty months from zero to the CRJ, with a First Officer job at Jazz and a path to Air Canada.
Integrated
Apply →
Air New Zealand
Mangopare Pilot Cadetship
Air New Zealand pays most of the cost for New Zealanders. You fund 20 to 30% and train in the US.
Integrated
Apply →
IndiGo
Cadet Pilot Programme
Self-funded training at one of IndiGo's partner schools in India or abroad, ending as a Junior First Officer on the A320.
Integrated
Apply →
AirAsia
AirAsia Cadet Pilot Programme
Self-funded training for Malaysian citizens and permanent residents, aimed at the A320 fleet.
Integrated
Apply →
Singapore Airlines
Ab Initio Cadet Pilot
SIA pays you an allowance while it trains you at Singapore Flying College. In return you're bonded for seven years as a First Officer.
Integrated
Apply →
Air Arabia
Air Arabia Academy MPL
An MPL at Air Arabia's own academy in Sharjah. Over 500 graduates now fly for the airline.
MPL
Apply →
Etihad Airways
Etihad Cadet Pilot Programme
Fully sponsored for UAE nationals, with a monthly stipend from day one and a guaranteed job if you pass.
Integrated
Apply →
Turkish Airlines
Take-Off Cadet Programme
Turkish Airlines' route for graduates with no flying experience. Train in 15 to 18 months and join the fleet as a First Officer.
Integrated
Apply →
Eurowings
Eurowings Promotion Programme
Thirty places a year for European Flight Academy students, with a priority job guarantee at Eurowings when you finish.
Integrated
Apply →
AEGEAN
AEGEAN Pilot Scholarship
AEGEAN covers most of the roughly €100,000 training cost for 40 cadets a year. Open to Greek and Cypriot citizens only.
Integrated
Apply →
Finnair
Finnair MPL Programme
€60,000 total, but €22,500 of it is paid after Finnair employs you. Trains you straight onto the A320.
MPL
Apply →
airBaltic
airBaltic Pilot Academy
You pay about €25,000 for theory and the first 45 flying hours. If you pass airBaltic's assessment and get hired, the airline covers the rest.
Integrated
Apply →
SWISS
SWISS Pilot Training (European Flight Academy)
Train through Lufthansa's academy and SWISS lends you what the subsidy doesn't cover. Since 2025 there's no upfront payment for Swiss citizens.
Integrated
Apply →
Air France
Cadets Programme
Air France pays for the whole course and puts you in an A220, A320 or Transavia 737 at the end. You'll need fluent French.
Integrated
Apply →
Aurigny and Norse Atlantic UK
Airline Pathway with Leading Edge Aviation
Train on Leading Edge's integrated course and you can get a conditional offer from Aurigny during ground school. Two years on the ATR, then Norse's 787s at Gatwick.
Integrated
Apply →
Aer Lingus
Future Pilot Programme
Fully sponsored training in Spain, then an A320 type rating in Dublin. Small intakes and short windows.
MPL
Apply →
American Airlines
Cadet Academy
Train at an American partner school, fly for Envoy, Piedmont or PSA, then move up to American.
Pathway
Apply →
United Airlines
United Aviate Academy
United's own flight school in Arizona. About $89,000, then hour building and two years at a United Express airline.
Pathway
Apply →
Delta Air Lines
Delta Propel
A US route for student pilots at Delta partner schools. Get selected and you receive a job offer to Endeavor Air, then Delta.
Pathway
Apply →
KLM
KLM Flight Academy
KLM lends you the full cost interest-free while you train. The catch: it's taught in Dutch.
Integrated
Apply →
SkyAlps
MPL Programme with AELO Swiss Academy
An 18 month MPL in Switzerland that ends with a Dash 8 Q400 type rating and a SkyAlps contract. Self-funded at about €105,000.
MPL
Apply →
Wizz Air
Wizz Air Pilot Academy
Train in Hungary for about €61,000. You pay €13,950 upfront and the rest comes out monthly once you're a Wizz First Officer.
Integrated
Apply →
Qatar Airways
National Cadet Pilot Programme
Fully sponsored, but only for Qatari nationals or applicants with a Qatari mother.
MPL
Apply →
Qantas Group
Qantas Group Pilot Academy
Qantas's own academy in Queensland. Self-funded, with no job guarantee, but graduates get a shot at QantasLink and Jetstar.
Integrated
Apply →
Loganair
Student Tagging Scheme (Leading Edge Aviation)
Train at Leading Edge Aviation and you can be assessed by Loganair before your CPL. Pass and you get a conditional offer.
Pathway
Apply →
flydubai
Ab Initio Pilot Programme
An MPL route into flydubai. Self-sponsored for non-UAE nationals, with a conditional offer once you pass selection.
MPL
Apply →
TUI Airways
MPL Cadet Programme
Nothing to pay upfront. TUI trains you on the 737 and takes the cost back out of your salary once you're flying.
MPL
Apply →
Jet2
Jet2FlightPath
Jet2 funds your licence and type rating, then puts you in the right seat of one of its jets.
Integrated
Apply →
Cathay Pacific
Cadet Pilot Programme
Cathay pays for your training in Australia or the US, then you fly long-haul out of Hong Kong.
Integrated
Apply →
Lufthansa Group
European Flight Academy
Lufthansa Group's own school. €10,000 to start, the rest financed through a partner, and routes into SWISS, Eurowings, Austrian and more.
Integrated
Apply →
Emirates
Emirates Flight Training Academy
Sponsored for UAE nationals. Everyone else pays about $181,650, and there's no guaranteed job at Emirates at the end.
Integrated
Apply →
Ryanair
Future Flyer Academy (Skyborne)
Ryanair's UK ab initio route, trained at Skyborne. You pay for the course, and the 737 type rating comes later on a bond.
Integrated
Apply →
Ryanair
Future Flyer Academy: MCC and 737 Type Rating
For people who already hold a frozen ATPL or CPL with instrument rating. Do the MCC with a Ryanair partner and go for the 737.
Type Rating
Apply →
easyJet
Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme
An MPL course with CAE that leads to the right seat of an easyJet A320. You fund it yourself, at about €115,000.
MPL
Apply →
British Airways
Speedbird Pilot Academy
BA pays for your whole training, roughly £100,000, and guarantees you a flying job at the end. Getting in is the hard part.
Integrated
Apply →

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