Easyjet launches cabin crew recruitment campaign for ’empty nesters’… and reveals parents who’ve copied their flight-attendant children and taken to the skies

• The airline said it had seen a 27% increase in cabin crew over the age of 45  
• Older people have a ‘wealth of life experience and transferable skills’ – easyJet
• Neil, 59, followed in the footsteps of daughter Holly, 29, to become cabin crew

Airline easyJet has launched a recruitment drive aimed at encouraging people over the age of 45 to join its cabin crews.

‘Empty nesters’ – parents whose children have left the family home or have started their own careers – and anyone looking for a new career later in life are among those being encouraged to apply.

The UK-based airline said it had seen a 27 per cent increase in cabin crew over the age of 45 in the past four years, including a 30 per cent increase in people over 60 in the past year.

Taking flight: (Pictured left to right) Mike Tear (57), Eva Lews (48), Peter Wanless (68), Neil Brown (59) and Gary Fellowes (63) feature in a new recruitment drive campaign from easyJet that is encouraging parents with older children and over 45s to apply for roles on the airline

The new campaign follows research by easyJet – a survey of 2,000 British adults over 45 – that shows that over three-quarters (78 per cent) of people would like to take on a new challenge once their children had flown the nest. Over half (58 per cent) said they were most excited about starting a new career.

Over half (57 per cent) of respondents said that now their children are not dependent on them anymore, they hope to find a new career in something they are truly passionate about.

The new recruitment campaign has been launched with a series of new ads featuring real-life cabin crew who joined easyJet in the past year, including Neil Brown (59), Peter Wanless (68), Mike Tear (57), Gary Fellowes (63) and Carlos Santa Monica (48).

EasyJet is encouraging even more to apply, with their ‘wealth of life experience and transferable skills’, such as customer service and people management, making many ‘ideal candidates’ for the job.

Neil, 59, followed in the footsteps of daughter Holly, 29, to become cabin crew in 2019 having previously worked in engineering and after a 30-year career in sales.

Speaking about his decision to start a new career as cabin crew, Neil said: ‘I decided I needed a new challenge and wanted a job I could enjoy and would look forward to each day, knowing how much Holly loved the job and with her encouragement I applied and found myself in Luton academy for training. I have loved it ever since.’

Neil, 59, followed in the footsteps of daughter Holly, 29, to become cabin crew in 2019 having previously worked in engineering and after a 30-year career in sales 

Karen, 54, and Daniela, 21, a mother and daughter, are also both easyJet cabin crew who started flying with the airline this year. Mum, Karen, who previously worked as a holiday rep while living in Spain, was inspired by her daughter to apply to become cabin crew as she was looking for a change of career.

Speaking about following her daughter into a job at easyJet, Karen said: ‘I’ve always loved travelling and exploring new places, and I’m a real people person. I was recently after a complete career change, and I wanted to be cabin crew when I was younger, so when Daniela started her role with easyJet I was inspired to try it myself. And I’m so glad I did!’

The survey also revealed that many ‘empty nesters’ are now turning to their children as motivation for seeking out a new vocation, with over two-thirds (67 per cent) feeling inspired by their children’s career success and growth.

Karen, 54, and Daniela, 21, a mother and daughter, are both easyJet cabin crew who started flying with the airline this year. Mum, Karen, who previously worked as a holiday rep while living in Spain, was inspired by her daughter to apply to become cabin crew as she was looking for a change of career 

One-fifth (20 per cent) of parents even said they would love to work in the same company as their children to spend more time with them.

Over six in 10 (63 per cent) of those surveyed said that a career that allowed them to travel would be most desirable, with almost three-quarters (70 per cent) saying that travelling more is the one thing they have always wanted to do.

The research also revealed the top 10 most desirable new career choices for the over 45s. Charity work and volunteering topped the list, followed closely by being a paramedic, with cabin crew and teacher also in the top five.

The new campaign follows research by easyJet that shows that over three-quarters of people would like to take on a new challenge once their children had flown the nest 

Michael Brown, Director of Cabin Services for easyJet, commented: ‘At easyJet, our people are at the heart of everything we do and it’s the warm welcome and fantastic customer service that our cabin crew are famous for. Karen and Daniela are a great example of how being cabin crew is a fantastic job no matter what your age and so we want to encourage even more people like them to join us.

‘If you’ve got a passion for travel and people and want a job that’s different every day, then we can’t wait to welcome you on board as part of the team.’

For more information about a career as cabin crew with easyJet visit: careers.easyjet.com/cabin-crew.

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