easyJet Cabin Crew Recruitment: More Over-50s Take to the Skies

A career in the skies is no longer something many people associate only with younger workers. easyJet is highlighting a growing number of cabin crew members who have joined the airline later in life, with the number of crew aged 50 and over increasing by 127% since 2022.

The airline is now preparing to take that further, with a new cabin crew recruitment drive opening in September 2026 and hundreds of positions available across its UK bases for 2027.

Courtesy: easyjet

More Than Double the Number of Over-50 Cabin Crew

easyJet first launched an initiative encouraging people over 50, including “empty nesters” looking for a new direction, to consider becoming cabin crew in 2022.

Since then, the airline says the number of cabin crew aged 50 and over has more than doubled, increasing by 127%. The growth has been even more significant among those aged 60 and over, with their numbers having almost quadrupled.

Today, around 12% of easyJet's cabin crew are aged 50 or over.

The airline believes this reflects a wider change in the way people view career changes later in life, with many experienced workers choosing to learn new skills and move into completely different industries.

New easyJet Cabin Crew Recruitment Drive Coming in September

easyJet is now encouraging even more people to consider cabin crew as a second or later-life career.

Applications for hundreds of cabin crew positions across easyJet's UK bases are scheduled to open in September 2026, with the new recruits joining the airline for roles in 2027.

The airline's latest campaign is particularly aimed at challenging the idea that cabin crew is a career primarily suited to younger applicants.

And easyJet already has evidence that people who make the switch later in life can thrive in the role.

Why Are More People Over 50 Choosing Cabin Crew?

According to new research commissioned by easyJet, 80% of UK adults who have changed careers after the age of 50 said the move improved their overall happiness.

Other findings included:

• 71% said their confidence increased.
• 69% said changing careers helped them understand what they really wanted from a job.
• 65% wished they had made the change sooner.
• 88% would encourage others in their age group to learn a new skill.
• 79% said they now see their age as an asset at work rather than a barrier.

Travel and tourism was also identified as the most attractive sector for people looking to change careers after 50.

For those considering a career change, the main motivations included greater flexibility, improved job satisfaction and fulfilment, and the opportunity to experience something new.

Courtesy: easyjet

Life Experience Can Be an Advantage in the Cabin

easyJet says older applicants can bring valuable transferable skills to cabin crew roles.

Among the skills highlighted by the airline's research were problem-solving, staying calm during unexpected or stressful situations, and strong communication skills.

These are all skills that can be particularly useful when working with passengers, handling unexpected situations and providing customer service at 30,000 feet.

The growing number of older crew members has also created a more multigenerational working environment. More than half of over-50 crew surveyed said they feel they act as mentors to younger colleagues, while 85% said they were pleased with how welcoming and multigenerational their teams were.

Meet the 64-Year-Old Who Became easyJet Cabin Crew

One of the strongest examples of this career change is Francesca Hicks, who joined easyJet at the age of 64.

Francesca had previously worked as a secretary and as a nurse supporting people living with dementia. Looking for an opportunity to use her existing skills in a new environment, she attended an easyJet cabin crew taster event before applying and completing the airline's recruitment and training process.

Around 18 months later, she was a fully trained cabin crew member and had already taken to the skies more than 250 times.

Her experience highlights one of the key messages behind easyJet's campaign: changing careers later in life doesn't necessarily mean starting from zero.

Communication, organisation, interpersonal skills and experience dealing with people can all be transferred into a cabin crew career.

Is Cabin Crew Only for Younger Applicants?

The easyJet initiative also addresses a common misconception among people considering a career change after 50.

The airline's previous research found that 28% of people over 50 assumed cabin crew was a job for younger workers, while 46% worried they would be the oldest person in their training group.

However, the growing number of older crew members at easyJet suggests that the traditional image of cabin crew is changing.

The important point is that easyJet is not introducing cabin crew careers for people over 50 for the first time in September. The airline has already been actively recruiting older workers since 2022. The September 2026 campaign is a new recruitment drive aimed at bringing even more people into the profession.

Courtesy: easyjet

A New Chapter Can Take Off at Any Age

For someone who has spent decades in another profession, becoming cabin crew might seem like an unlikely career move.

But easyJet's latest figures show that people are increasingly willing to challenge that assumption.

With over-50 cabin crew numbers up 127% since 2022 and hundreds of new positions due to open across the UK in September, easyJet is sending a clear message: a career in the skies doesn't necessarily have to start in your 20s.

As easyJet continues expanding its cabin crew recruitment, the airline is encouraging more experienced professionals and later-life career changers to consider whether their next career chapter could take them into the skies.

Applicants should check the airline's official recruitment channels for the available vacancies and individual requirements when applications open.