British Airways to put 200 aspiring pilots through flight school for free

British Airways has announced it will fully fund 200 places on its pilot training programme next year, doubling the initial allocation of places.

The move, which marks a £21 million investment, is aimed at enhancing social mobility and diversity among its pilots, the airline said. Pilot training costs around £100,000 for a course lasting around two years and the cost of flight training has been a barrier for many aspiring aviators, according to BA.

Funding was initially in place for 100 places in 2025, but the airline announced at the Farnborough Air Show in Hampshire that the allocation has now been doubled to 200.

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Sean Doyle, British Airways' chief executive, said: "I'm incredibly proud of the Speedbird Pilot Academy and the opportunity it provides to those talented individuals who have held a lifetime ambition of becoming a commercial airline pilot but have perhaps found it difficult to independently fund their training.

"The standard of applicants we see for this programme is consistently high so as part of our commitment to attracting the very best candidates from right across society, we've increased the 2025 cohort to give as many people as possible the chance of realising their dream."

Ryan Street, a 27 year old cadet from Stockport, was previously put through the training. He had dreamed of a career in aviation since he was a young boy and joined the RAF Air Cadets at the age of 12.

Ryan worked at Manchester Airport for a ground handling company before successfully applying for the British Airways’ training programme. "Applying for the Speedbird Pilot Academy and being selected for such a highly competitive opportunity was a dream