- Jetstar is on track to recruit over 140 pilots this year
- The pilots are among more than one thousand new team members joining the airline
- The recruitment drive supports the low-cost carrier’s expanding network and commitment to improving its operations
24 July 2023: Jetstar is set to bring on board more than 140 pilots this year – one of the airline’s biggest ever pilot intakes – during a period of rapid workforce and network expansion.
Among them is cadet pilot Patrick Schwarz, who joins his father, Captain Phil Schwarz, who has flown with the Jetstar Group for nearly 20 years.
The new pilots will support the airline’s growth, including flying new routes such as Sydney to Rarotonga, Brisbane to Seoul and Melbourne to Fiji, and allowing it to offer more low fares than ever before.
The recruitment campaign is part of the Qantas Group’s long-term plan to create 8500 new operational roles over the next decade.
Patrick will operate his first commercial flight with the airline on 24 July 2023.
The 21-year-old is one of the first cadets to come to the airline directly from the Qantas Group Pilot Academy, which is providing a new pathway for aspiring pilots to join Jetstar.
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Jetstar cadet pilot, Patrick Schwarz:
“I’ve always dreamt of following in my dad’s footsteps and finally achieving that milestone is going to be really emotional, not just for me but for Dad too – I am counting down the days to my first flight,” said Mr Schwarz.
“Dad’s helped me every step of the way through what has been a challenging but rewarding few years of training and I feel really well prepared for my first flight.”
Boeing Training and Checking Manager, Captain Phil Schwarz:
“Pat and I have shared a passion for aviation since he was a young boy and I’ve been looking forward to his first flight for a long time.”
“He’s worked really hard to get to this point and I can’t wait to fly with him one day when we’re on the same fleet.”
Jetstar’s Chief Pilot & Head of Flight Operations, Jeremy Schmidt:
“As we approach 20 years of Jetstar it’s an exciting time to be joining our airline and the industry and it’s fantastic to see so many new team members coming on board this year,” said Captain Schmidt.
“With our ninth state-of-the art A321neo LR about to arrive and nine more of the aircraft expected before the end of 2024, we need more pilots to support our growing fleet and network,
“The new NEOs have allowed us to increase the number of services we put on existing routes including between Brisbane, Adelaide and Bali and also allows us to redeploy our Boeing 787 fleet onto exciting new routes like Brisbane to Seoul.”
