EasyJet – Unveiling of the Amy Johnson aircraft

EasyJet doubles number of new entrant female pilots following surge in applications to its Amy Johnson flying initiative

• In celebration airline names aircraft after Amy Johnson and sets new, ambitious target of 20% by 2020

Press Release: amy-johnson-release-dec-2016-final

Speaking at the aircraft naming ceremony easyJet chief executive Carolyn McCall commented:

“I am delighted to be unveiling this specially named aircraft after one of the most accomplished female aviators in history.

“50 years ago almost all professions were dominated by men and over the last five decades there has been significant progress in almost every sector with women entering and attaining senior positions in professions like law, medicine, education, finance and politics. However, the proportion has not changed for pilots and it is hard to think of another high profile profession where women are so under-represented.

“We would like to understand why this is and to do what we can to redress the balance. We have been encouraged by the success of our Amy Johnson initiative since we launched it in October 2015 and the results so far suggest that the demand from women to become pilots is there.

“In light of us achieving our first target we have set a new target of 20% female new entrant cadet pilots by 2020. This means that we will be recruiting around 50 annually which will really start to change the face of our industry. This is a long term strategy, which we hope will eventually lead to easyJet recruiting, retaining and developing many more female pilots.”