One American airline company wants you to fly the equitable skies within the next decade.
United Airlines has set a bold goal to increase diversity within its ranks and is aiming to have 50% of its pilots be women and minorities by the year 2030.
Related: Toms River family kicked off Spirit Airlines flight for maskless 2-year-old
“Our flight deck should reflect the diverse group of people onboard our planes every day. That’s why we plan for 50% of the 5,000 pilots we train in the next decade to be women or people of color,” the company said.
United says today, 20% of its pilots are women or minorities.
“Today, United has one of the most diverse pilot populations of any U.S. carrier with nearly 20% of our pilot group made up of women and people of color,” the airline said. “We are working toward raising that number even higher by partnering with diversity-led organizations and continuing to remove gender and racial barriers. And we’re going one step further with plans for 50% of United Aviate Academy students being women and people of color to ensure our students reflect the diversity of the customers and communities we serve.”
United and JPMorgan Chase are offering $2.4 million in financial aid to qualified women and minorities who wish to become airline pilots. United expects to hire more than 10,000 pilots over the next decade.