JetBlue has expanded its training portfolio with the launch of ‘Gateway University – Tech Ops’, a new programme giving students a direct pathway into full-time roles as aircraft maintenance technicians (AMTs).

The programme builds on the airline’s internal Technical Operations Gateways and, for the first time, opens opportunities to students outside the organisation to access a defined training-to-employment pipeline.

The initiative launches with two partners – Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology in New York and Cape Cod Community College in Massachusetts – both FAA-approved institutions with long-standing ties to JetBlue’s workforce.

David A. Marcontell, vice president of technical operations at JetBlue, said: “AMTs are integral to our industry, working days, nights, weekends and holidays ensuring safety, reliability, and efficiency on every flight.

“JetBlue’s home in the Northeast sits at the centre of our operations and many of our current technicians were trained at these schools. We know the skilled talent available well here and streamlining the path from early development to a full-time job at a major airline is as much a benefit to us as it is to the many candidates who are often dissuaded by the post graduate employment uncertainty.”

Students accepted into the programme will receive a conditional job offer, mentoring from JetBlue technicians, support through required coursework and FAA certification, and a direct transition into an AMT role upon completion.

JetBlue has begun accepting the first intake, with graduates expected to join the Tech Ops team in 2026.

The airline plans further expansion to additional partner colleges across its maintenance network.

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