SEPANG, 8 March 2023:
AirAsia is resuming its 24-month Cadet Pilot Programme after a two-year hiatus during the pandemic – while making a special note to attract more female applicants as International Women’s Day is marked today.
In a statement, the budget carrier said it is seeking to add to AirAsia’s rapidly growing female pilots.
More than a decade ago, AirAsia became the first airline in Asean to open the door for a female pilot with captain Norashikin Onn, who also became the first female commercial pilot in Malaysia.
It has since gone on to recruit 157 female pilots across the group including AirAsia Indonesia’s captain Monika Anggreini, and captain Suwapich Wongwiriyawanich, who started as a cabin crew member before becoming the first female captain of an Airbus 330 in Thailand.
Two of the airline’s first female cadets from the programme – captain Ilyana and captain Noor Hafizah – have been with AirAsia for 17 years. In 2019 alone, an incredible 44 women enrolled – many of whom are now first officers with the airline.
The airline was a trailblazer in empowering women to lead the aviation workforce ‒ typically a male-dominated industry from pilots, engineers to ramp agents. This programme began in 2004 and has taken in many aspiring female cadets who have since gone on to become first officers, senior first officers and captains with AirAsia.
Riad Asmat, CEO of AirAsia Malaysia said: “As we slowly resume operating at full capacity, we see a surge in demand for travel like never before. As our aircraft count grows to accommodate this demand, we will undoubtedly be looking to expand our family of pilots.”
Applications for the Cadet Pilot Programme can be done via this website.
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