Britain’s biggest airline easyJet has announced a major female recruitment drive after revealing there are so few female captains that all 450 in the world could fit into one jumbo jet.
Only three per cent of commercial airline pilots worldwide are women and easyJet today said it planned to ensure that a fifth of its new entrant cadet pilots are women by 2020.
It already has 62 female captains — about 14 per cent of the world’s total — following the launch of a pro-female recruitment scheme, the Amy Johnson Flying Initiative, last year.
More than 600 women applied and easyJet today raised its target for female cadet pilots.
EasyJet boss Carolyn McCall, who is one of only seven female FTSE 100 chief executives, said: “A few weeks ago [on an easyJet flight] the customary PA from the captain about that morning’s flight was delivered by one of our female pilots.
“Two women sitting in front of me did a double take, turning to each other in surprise.
“It is hard to think of another high profile profession where women are so under-represented.”
One of the airline’s female recruits is Kate McWilliams, 26, who is believed to be the world’s youngest commercial captain.
She said: “I’ve spoken to so many women who say ‘I would love to be a pilot but...’ My response is always ‘But why not?’
“If you really want to do it then there is nothing to stop you other than your own belief in yourself.”
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