British Airways to spend £6million a year in a bid to boost diversity among its pilots

BRITISH Airways will spend £6million a year to increase diversity among its pilots.

The airline is stumping up £100,000 each for the training costs of 60 new applicants a year from low-income backgrounds.

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Candidates will no longer need A-levels or a degree and will not have to be able to pay for the training themselves.

Simon Cheadle, BA’s director of flight ops, said: “We’re encouraging anyone from lower socio-economic groups to achieve their dream of becoming a pilot.”

Only six per cent of commercial pilots are women.

Hannah Vaughan, 32, a BA senior first officer, said: “Funding pilot training opens the job up to anyone.”

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She added: "My friends are all talking about it. It’s fantastic we all have this chance."

Student Priyesh, 17, has done work experience at BA.

He said of flying: “It’s all I want to do.”