United Commits to Pilot Diversity by Launching Its Own Flight School, Scholarships
Skift Take
Following the global reckoning of a lack of diversity and inclusion, will United Airlines' push for a more inclusive cockpit be the way of the future, or will it fizzle out? As more pilots retire, the new faces will tell their own story.
United Airlines is spreading its wings into new territory with the opening of its own flight school and commitment to increasing diversity in the flight deck through a multi-million-dollar scholarship partnership with JPMorgan Chase, the company announced this week.
Both United and JPMorgan Chase, the airline’s credit card issuing partner are committing to matching $1.2 million in scholarships for a total endowment of $2.4 million dollars.
In launching United Aviate Academy, the Chicago-based airline becomes the first major U.S. airline to own its own flight school and said it is committed to ensuring that 50 percent of the pilot trainees are persons of color or women, both groups that are underrepresented among the ranks of pilots.
"Aviate allows us to open to door to an exciting and lucrative career opportunity that previously
