airBaltic has opened the application process for candidates to the airline’s newly established Pilot Academy at airBalticTraining.

Persons selected will be the first class of students of the professional airline pilot training programme and will become airBaltic pilots upon completion of the programme in about two years from now.

Martin Gauss, chief executive, airBaltic, said: “airBaltic is growing rapidly and over the next five years we are planning to recruit over 1,000 highly educated professionals.

“Now we are taking one step further by introducing a new education programme for our future commercial pilots.

“It is not only one of the most fascinating professions in the world, but highly sought after one as well.”

The application process for the first academic year will end on January 8th, 2018.

At the beginning airBaltic is planning to educate 20 pilots per year.

airBalticTraining Pilot Academy is planning to start the first academic year in March, 2018, with the theoretical training courses.

Pauls Cālītis, airBaltic senior vice president, flight operations, added: “Over the years airBalticTraining has gained significant experience in training aviation professionals.

“Now we are expanding our capabilities to offer the most modern and professional training programme for new pilots.

“Pilot Academy is the only programme to offer high calibre pilot training, which will lead to employment as an airBaltic pilot.

“We are proud to create this unique opportunity for Latvians and our Baltic neighbours to become airBaltic pilots of the future.”

For more information applicants can visit the official website.

airBaltic serves over 60 destinations from its home base in Riga, Latvia.

From every one of these locations, airBaltic offers convenient connections via Riga to its network spanning Europe, Scandinavia, the CIS and the Middle East.

In addition, airBaltic also offers direct flights from Tallinn and Vilnius.