unaligned

Airline easyJet is launching a drive to recruit 1,000 pilots over the next five years, with a focus on attracting more women. The company, which has predicted a strong summer of bookings as the UK emerges from the virus crisis, said it wants to tackle a gender imbalance in the industry. Its pilot training programme is being launched for the first time since the start of the pandemic with a new advertising campaign on Monday showing some of the skills required. Increasing diversity in all of its forms in the flight deck is a long-term focus for easyJet Johan Lundgren, CE of easyJet, said: “We are delighted to be reopening our pilot training programme again for the first time since the pandemic hit and will see us recruit over 1,000 new pilots in the coming years. EasyJet has long championed greater diversity in the flight deck and this series of ads aims to highlight the extraordinary breadth of skills our pilots have and show that pilots can be found in all walks of life, in a bid to attract more diverse candidates. We continue to focus on challenging gendered stereotypes of the career having doubled the number of female pilots flying with us in recent years. We also acknowledge that whilst we have made progress, there is still work to do. Increasing diversity in all of its forms in the flight deck is a long-term focus for easyJet.” Captain Iris de Kan, a mother of two who is seen in one of the ads with five-year-old daughter Kiki, said: “It’s important that girls have visible role models so we can combat job stereotypes and show that anyone with the motivation and passion can turn their skills to being an airline pilot. I love the responsibility and challenge that comes with my job – but it’s not as challenging as juggling the demands of a five-year-old and a little baby at home.” Only around 6% of pilots worldwide are women, said easyJet.<br/>

Jazeera Airways’s board approved a deal to purchase of 28 narrow-body planes from Airbus SE as the Kuwaiti carrier’s expands its network to include long-haul routes. The value of the agreement is $3.4b and comprises 20 A320neos and eight A321neos, according to a statement. The companies had signed the pact at the Dubai Airshow in November. Jazeera, whose board also approved an agreement to buy two CFM spare engines in a $32.2 million deal, said deliveries of the Airbus aircraft will be determined at a later stage. The carrier already operates an all-Airbus fleet of original-generation A320s and eight A320neos. The airline, which laid off about 500 employees in 2020, is in recovery mode after the coronavirus pandemic grounded flights, rehiring staff who want to rejoin. Jazeera’s Q3 earnings wiped out first-half losses, while cash reserves are at an all-time high.<br/>

Kuwait Airways suspended its flights to Iraq due to "the current situation there", the Gulf country's flag carrier said in Twitter post on Saturday. The decision comes in line with instructions issued by Kuwait's civil aviation authority, the airline added. Several rockets landed in Iraq's Baghdad International Airport compound on Friday, damaging at least one disused civilian airplane, read more<br/>

Iraqi Airways states that a missile attack on Baghdad airport has damaged an out-of-service aircraft, but that the carrier is continuing to operate services. The attack took place at dawn on 28 January, the airline says. It has released photographs of a parked aircraft, the nose-gear doors of which identify it as an Airbus A300B4 registered YI-APX. The General Electric CF6-powered twinjet appears to have sustained damage to its left-hand forward fuselage, just behind the cockpit. Iraqi Airways says the A300 was located in an area where several old and disused aircraft are parked. But it says the incident “did not affect the company’s operations” and it is continuing “normal air traffic” on its regional and international network “without any obstruction”. The A300 involved was originally delivered to EgyptAir in 1983, according to Cirium fleet data.<br/>

Philippine Airlines President Gilbert Santa Maria is stepping down from his role in the carrier, the Philippine Star reported Sunday, citing unnamed people in the industry. The board of directors of the airline, majority owned by billionaire Lucio Tan, is set to meet Monday, and Santa Maria’s departure is on the agenda, the Star reported. A Philippine Air spokesperson didn’t reply to calls and messages seeking comment. The flagship carrier won court approval last month for its reorganization plan that paved the way for it to exit bankruptcy. Philippine Air is looking to tap $150m in additional financing and plans to cut its debt by $2b.<br/>