The UK low cost carrier easyJet is looking to recruit ’empty nesters’ as cabin crew following research that shows 78% of British parents aged 45 and over want to take on a new challenge once their children fly the nest.

Following a 27% increase of cabin crew over the age of 45 since 2018 including a 30% increase in those over 60 in the last year, the airline has launched a new recruitment campaign which aims to show a career as cabin crew is open to anyone with the right skills, regardless of age.

easyJet is encouraging peoplewith a wealth of life experience and transferable skills to apply, such as customer service and people management.

Latest figures from the UK Department for Work and Pensions show that there are over nine million 50+ workers now on payrolls, an increase of more than 210,000 since last year.

A series of new ads featuring real life cabin crew who joined easyJet in the past year including Neil, 59, who followed in the footsteps of daughter Holly, 29, to become cabin crew in 2019 having previously worked in engineering and sales. Speaking about his decision to start a new career as cabin crew, Neil said: “I decided I needed a new challenge and wanted a job I could enjoy and would look forward to work each day. Knowing how much Holly loved the job and with her encouragement I applied and found myself in Luton academy for training and I have loved it ever since.”

The survey also revealed that many ‘empty nesters’ are now turning to their children as motivation for seeking out a new vocation, with over two thirds (67%) feeling inspired by their children’s career success and growth. One fifth (20%) of parents even said they would love to work in the same company as their children to spend more time with them. Over six in 10 (63%) of those surveyed said that a career that allowed them to travel would be most desirable, with almost three quarters (70%) saying that travelling more is the one thing they have always wanted to do.

Michael Brown, director of cabin services for easyJet, said: “At easyJet, our people are at the heart of everything we do and it’s the warm welcome and excellent customer service that our cabin crew are famous for. All our brilliant crew who are part of our new campaign are a great example of how being cabin crew is a fantastic job no matter what your age and so we want to encourage even more people like them to join us.”