Jet2.com and Jet2holidays appoints over 120 ex-Thomas Cook employees

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays has today announced that it has appointed over 120 ex-Thomas Cook colleagues, including more than 50 pilots, 20 engineers, and almost 40 cabin crew members who have accepted offers of training and after successful completion will join us in time for Summer 2020.

Since the collapse of Thomas Cook, we have worked to offer ex-colleagues the opportunity to find alternative employment, hosting a number of dedicated recruitment roadshows. These roadshows have taken place across the UK in Manchester, Peterborough, Birmingham Airport and London Stansted Airport, as well as overseas.

The roadshows, designed specifically for ex-Thomas Cook colleagues, gave prospective colleagues an understanding as to what it is like to work for us. In addition, attendees were given an understanding of the recruitment process, including how to apply.

Despite having already appointed 120 ex-Thomas Cook employees, we are continuing our recruitment drive and are busy holding assessment days. We anticipate that we could employ a further 50 pilots by the end of February 2020, taking the total number of ex-Thomas Cook recruited pilots to more than 100.

Furthermore, over 20 engineers from Thomas Cook have accepted offers to join us and planning is underway to fill a further 50 engineering posts. Almost 40 cabin crew from Thomas Cook have also been offered training at Jet2.com and Jet2holidays with the largest influx being at Manchester Airport where 20 cabin crew have received offers at this base alone. There are also further candidates being offered places on the training scheme, meaning that this number is only likely to increase.  

We have not only focused our efforts on flight deck and cabin crew positions, but we have also recruited individuals in operational roles across the business such as safety, compliance and security, and crew control. At our Commercial Office in Leeds City Centre, we have also made offers to appoint a Contracts Manager, Overseas Operations Trainer and Business Analyst with further candidates currently going through the recruitment process.  

Tim, who has recently been offered the role of Training Captain at Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “Being told I’d lost my job was an emotional experience with deep uncertainty rippling through my whole family. A week before I was made redundant, I applied online to join Jet2.com and Jet2holidays as a direct entry Captain. This was a fantastic move and one week later, I was being interviewed for the position.

“The recruitment team were extremely friendly and soon made me relax – I left with a very good impression! I was offered the role and joined Jet2.com and Jet2holidays just over a month later. The induction week was very smooth, and everyone was friendly and professional. I’m delighted to be working for the company and what could have been an awful end to 2019, has turned out to be amazing!”

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “We moved very quickly to help people during a difficult time, and we are delighted to appoint talented colleagues and welcome them to our award-winning team.

“We have focused specifically on hiring individuals who share our value of delivering a VIP customer service. With an ever-growing programme, with new destinations and more aircraft being added to our fleet, it is a very exciting time for Jet2.com and Jet2holidays. We expect to recruit even more ex-Thomas Cook employees and look forward to welcoming them in the near future, as our company continues to grow.”

You can find more information about current vacancies available via www.jet2careers.com