Why easyJet is turning to Gen Z to solve aviation’s staff shortage

Working as cabin crew doesn’t require any formal educational qualifications - PA

Could your next flight be staffed by fresh-faced 18-year-olds? If you’re planning on jetting off with easyJet over the next year that might well be the case, at least if the budget airline gets its way.

With aviation facing a bit of a staffing squeeze in recent years, the low-cost carrier recently launched another one of its big recruitment campaigns. While previous adverts have targeted career-switchers and even the over-50s, this year’s message is aimed squarely at those who have never even had a full time-job – as they’re currently still in school.

In fairness to easyJet, they aren’t doing anything radically different here. The UK Civil Aviation Authority already allows 18 year olds to qualify as cabin crew, and many airlines say they are happy to consider applications from them.

But easyJet says it wants to make the job accessible to school leavers, tackling misconceptions about the level of qualifications that you actually need.

‘Enthusiasm from Gen Z’

The idea gets a strong thumbs up from some in the industry: “A lot of colleges already offer travel and tourism to over-16s, so there will presumably be a lot of school leavers who already have a good skills base in this area,” says Charlotte Crocker, a former flight attendant who now provides training to cabin crew.

“I started flying at 18 and it’s a brilliant job for anyone that age, but it takes a lot of hard work at the same time,” says Clare Shepherd from SkyPeople Training, a cabin crew training organisation.

“We run experience days for college students so we know there is definitely enthusiasm from Gen Z to work in this field.”

The airline wants young people to consider cabin crew as a career option - Simon Jacobs/PinPep

The job doesn’t require any formal educational qualifications but there is an intensive training period with some practical examinations – though the entire process might not take as long as you might assume.

“With a lot of the short-haul carriers, the training usually lasts around three to four weeks and will cover everything from emergency protocols to customer service,” says Ms Shepherd.

How to qualify

After that, newly qualified cabin crew are ready to take to the skies, albeit under the supervision of their more senior colleagues.

As for the recruitment process, the main aim is to find those with a knack for customer service. Though the fact that A-level students won’t have spent years pulling pints or waiting tables won’t necessarily be a deal breaker.

“The airlines are good at focusing on what you’ve learned from your work, rather than how long you’ve been doing it,” says Ms Shepherd.

There are a handful of compulsory requirements set by aviation regulators, such as the requirement for crew to be at least 5ft 2in in order to reach the overhead lockers, but much of the rest of the process is at the discretion of the airlines themselves.

Budget airline easyJet recently launched a recruitment campaign geared toward school leavers

Those who end up getting the job will then be sent on a residential training course, which will cover the wide range of things that could go wrong (at least in theory) when flying. Emergency drills will include things like in-flight fires, dealing with an incapacitated pilot and what to do in the event of a landing on water (known as “ditching”).

“A lot of passengers probably have no idea of all the different eventualities that cabin crew have to be trained on,” says Ms Shepherd. “In truth, you don’t really need to know, but you can always be assured you are in safe hands.”

Salary and compensation

At SkyPeople Training’s Manchester headquarters, would-be crew can practice using the inflatable slides used in an emergency landing.

There are also the numerous scenarios involving passengers themselves, including what to do if someone falls ill or becomes aggressive. These aren’t entirely unknown: just this month, a viral video showed Emirates cabin crew having to physically restrain an abusive passenger who had consumed too much alcohol.

As for the pay, it’s no secret that the job isn’t the best compensated in the world, given the high stress and responsibility. According to Indeed, the jobs platform, easyJet cabin crew can expect to take home just over £20,000 per year, topped up with some sales commissions.

Would-be crew are taught proper safety procedures during the taster sessions

Ryanair, its competitor, pays its crew just under that amount, with the full service airlines typically paying slightly more, particularly those based in the Middle East.

The job does open up some other doors, say insiders. Should cabin crew get tired of commercial class, there is a burgeoning industry of “VIP” crew working on private flights for rich clients and charter airlines.

More surprisingly, some former flight attendants have gone on to work within the police force, presumably putting some of that de-escalation training to good use.

Whether that will be enough to swing it for school-leavers remains to be seen – though there has already been some buzz around the campaign on TikTok. If easyJet wants to keep up with next summer’s schedule, they’d better hope some of those users like what they see.

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