Air New Zealand launches inaugural pilot cadet program with first cohort departing

Dalton Coppins from Auckland also embarks on this journey after working as a flight attendant for Air New Zealand. He shared his enthusiasm: "Becoming a cabin crew member was a way to get into aviation... When the cadetship came up, applying was a no-brainer."

Caleb Thomas, another selected cadet and University of Waikato student, saw this as an opportunity he couldn't miss: "I decided to study business and science because I'm passionate about sustainability... I thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Greg Foran, Chief Executive Officer of Air New Zealand, highlighted the importance of this initiative: "The cadetship opens the door for individuals from all walks of life by reducing barriers to becoming a pilot."

The first cohort will spend 12 months in Arizona for initial training before moving on to Dubai for specific aircraft training. Subsequent groups will follow at eight-week intervals. The airline plans to integrate these new pilots into its internal training by late 2025.