For many young people, becoming a pilot is a lifelong dream. However, until now, the high training costs have represented an almost insurmountable hurdle for many interested parties. Now the Swiss airlines Edelweiss and Swiss International Air Lines (Swiss) have presented new models for financing pilot training, which should enable aspiring pilots to begin their training without having to make large financial investments up front.
From June 2025, Edelweiss will cover the entire training costs for Swiss citizens through a low-interest loan, while the personal contribution for citizens of EU and EFTA states will be significantly reduced. At the same time, Swiss has announced that it will also cover the full equity portion of the training costs in the form of a loan in the future. With these measures, the airlines are sending a strong signal for the promotion of young talent in the cockpit.
Edelweiss covers costs for Swiss citizens
Until now, aspiring pilots at Edelweiss had to make a significant contribution of their own to finance their training. From June 2025, this will no longer be necessary for Swiss citizens. Edelweiss provides each applicant with a loan of 80.000 Swiss francs, which covers all training costs. Repayment only takes place after successful completion and employment as a pilot at Edelweiss - in installments and with minimal interest.
Applicants from EU and EFTA countries will still be required to pay a personal contribution of CHF 24.000. This is due to the lower state subsidies for these applicant groups compared to Swiss citizens.
With this measure, Edelweiss is responding to the increasing demand for pilots and at the same time creating a better starting position for talented young people who have previously had to forego training for financial reasons.
Swiss follows with its own financing model
Swiss has also presented a new financing model that will come into effect in June 2025. The airline, which needs around 110 new pilots every year, will in future cover the entire equity share of the training costs in the form of a loan.
Until now, aspiring Swiss pilots had to cover a significant portion of the training costs themselves, despite government support and a loan from the company. This contribution is now completely eliminated.
"With this investment, we are removing a major financial hurdle and opening the way to the cockpit for even more talent," explained Oliver Buchhofer, Chief Operating Officer of Swiss. He stressed that in future it should no longer depend on financial background whether someone can take up the profession of pilot.
At Swiss, the loan is also repaid in installments after successful employment. The interest rate is based on the guidelines of the Federal Tax Administration.
Increasing demand for pilots as the background to the measures
The measures taken by Edelweiss and Swiss come against the backdrop of a growing need for pilots in the aviation industry. The number of active professional pilots in Europe has fluctuated greatly in recent years. While the Corona pandemic led to massive job cuts, airlines are now faced with a growing demand for qualified personnel.
Swiss alone needs around 110 new pilots every year to ensure long-term operations. Edelweiss also has a growing need for flight personnel, particularly in the area of holiday flights. The new financing models are intended to help systematically build up the next generation of personnel and secure them in the long term.
Equal opportunities for all – a new chapter in pilot training
With the loan models now introduced, Edelweiss and Swiss are creating new opportunities for aspiring pilots to begin training regardless of their financial situation. In the long term, this could not only increase the attractiveness of the pilot profession, but also help to reach a more diverse and broader applicant base.
While in the past it was often a question of financial background whether someone could afford the training, from 2025 onwards it will be solely the pilot's talent that will be decisive.
and 