EasyJet over-50s recruitment drive doubles cabin crew numbers
EasyJet's over-50s recruitment drive has doubled cabin crew in their 50s to 600, and quadrupled the over-60s group.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
EasyJet has said its recruitment drive aimed at workers aged over 50 has led to a doubling of its cabin crew numbers in the UK. The airline launched the scheme in 2022, and now says the number of cabin crew in their 50s has risen from 300 to 600. The number of new joiners in their 60s has also increased, with the over-60 group quadrupling.
One of those to benefit is Andy Hampson, who joined at the age of 58 after seeing the campaign. He swapped corporate events for a career in the sky. He said he thought the airline would never employ "an aging, balding, overweight guy", but they did. He added that older workers can make decisions better than younger colleagues.
The airline is not alone in looking for older workers. Stuart Lewis, who supports people ready for a career change, said employers are waking up to the opportunity presented by an aging population. He noted that someone turning 50 might have 20 years left in the workforce.
EasyJet has now launched another over-50s recruitment drive, building on the success of the first. Hampson's advice to others is simple: "Get up and get yourself out there and do it."
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 |
|---|---|
| EasyJet's 2022 recruitment drive doubled the number of cabin crew in their 50s from 300 to 600. | |
| EasyJet's over-60 cabin crew group quadrupled. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
5 News focused on the human interest side of the story, featuring Andy Hampson's personal experience and positive advice. It also included broader context from Stuart Lewis about the aging workforce, but did not include any critical or contrasting perspectives. The tone was upbeat and encouraging.
- “I thought, you know, they'll never really employ an aging, balding, overweight guy, and they did, so here I am.”
- “Get up and get yourself out there and do it. Just go for it.”
- “People are living longer, which means that the population is aging, that means that customer bases are aging, it means workforce is aging, and employers are waking up to this opportunity.”
Broadcast Timeline
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