More than 2,800 people applied for just 12 cadet pilot posts with Aer Lingus, the airline has said.
Since the programme was reintroduced in 2011 almost 60 cadets have been chosen, of whom nine are female.
This year’s group of 12 recruits included four women.
The 12 are from the Republic, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
The cadets will begin a 14-month training course during January, based in Jerez, Spain. Training includes five months of ground school, followed by initial flight training on single and multi-engine aircraft and aircraft simulators.
Airline transition course
The cadets will then return to Dublin to complete further training, including an airline transition course, and their A320 Type Rating course. This will include technical knowledge and simulator training and examination.
Following successful completion of this course, the cadets will receive their wings and commence flying the airline’s fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft.
This is the fourth Aer Lingus Cadet Pilot Training Programme to commence since 2011.
The airline relaunched its aircraft maintenance and engineering apprentice scheme in 2011 and also recently launched its IT graduate programme.
Mike Rutter, chief operating officer, said the airline wished to provide young people with the opportunity to enjoy long and fulfilling careers in aviation.
