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United Airlines pledges $1.2 million to fund diversity at flight school

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United Airlines is the only major U.S. airline to own its own flight school and now the United Aviate Academy plans to train 5,000 new pilots by 2030 with at least 50 percent being women or people of color, reports Afro Tech.

According to PR Newswire, scholarship commitments from both United and JPMorgan Chase are on a mission to ensure that eligible applicants will not be turned away for financial reasons.

“Over the next decade, United will train 5,000 pilots who will be guaranteed a job with United, after they complete the requirements of the Aviate program — and our plan is for half of them to be women and people of color,” said United CEO Scott Kirby in a news release. “We’re excited that JPMorgan Chase has agreed to support our work to diversify our pilot ranks and create new opportunities for thousands of women and people of color who want to pursue a career in aviation.”

Together, United and JPMorgan Chase, who serves as the airline’s credit card partner, has committed $1.2 million in scholarships to break down financial barriers that limit access to the airline pilot career path for generations of women and people of color.

“We are proud to partner with United to support the Aviate Academy’s mission to enable thousands to pursue their dream as a commercial pilot,” said Ed Olebe, president of Chase Co-Brand Cards. “Investing in this program directly aligns with our efforts to advance racial equity by expanding career development opportunities and making tangible progress in a field where women and people of color are underrepresented.”

In addition, United has announced its partnerships with HBCUs to identify top talent and recruit them into the Aviate program. The institutions include Delaware State University, Elizabeth City State University and Hampton University.

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