Finnair has reserved 44 new pilots from this year’s applicants to the Finnish Aviation Academy to answer its need for more pilots in the coming years. The Finnish Aviation Academy began operations at the beginning of this year, and has received almost a thousand applications for its first training programme. The selections will be made this autumn and after completing the training programme, the qualified pilots will be ready to join Finnair in 2005.

Finnair’s fifth MD-11 aircraft, to be delivered next spring, the continuously growing Asian traffic as well as the new Airbus A320 aircraft have created an increasing demand for pilots which needs to be met quickly. As a solution, Finnair is currently recruiting commercial pilots already in the profession and has received some 200 applications. Finnair will hire the accepted pilots in this group within the next two years.

Several studies have shown that Finnair is the second most sought after employer in Finland. The Finnish Aviation Academy situated in the town of Pori, trains pilots for the use of all Finnish airlines as well as other aviation professionals.

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