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Sunwing Airlines announced on March 21 that it has established a new partnership agreement with Mount Royal University and plans to hire its first graduates this coming summer.
Mount Royal is the latest university that the airline has partnered with, and the first in Alberta, as part of its direct entry cadet program for aviation graduates. Sunwing already has agreements in place with both the University of Waterloo and Seneca College in Ontario and has hired 24 graduates since the program was established in 2016.
Vice-president of Flight Operations for Sunwing Airlines, Piyush Gandhi, commented on the news: “The decision to incorporate Mount Royal into our growing cadet program is a reflection on both their strong track record within the field of Aviation education and the calibre of their graduates. We have had an extremely positive experience with the pilots that we have hired already through our cadet program, and we have no doubt that this new partnership–also the first to be established outside of Ontario where our airline is based–will be a strong success.”
Elizabeth Evans, PhD, dean of Mount Royal University’s Faculty of Business and Communication Studies, which includes the aviation program, also welcomed the news: “With today’s signing, we are ensuring we keep this talent here by providing graduates with meaningful employment in Canada. Up to two of our graduates are only weeks away from the tremendous opportunity of joining Sunwing’s cadet program. This is a testament to the strength of Mount Royal’s aviation program. Sunwing believes graduates have the right skills, knowledge and attitude to become first officers.”
The Mount Royal aviation diploma stands out as it offers students the opportunity to graduate with both the academic qualifications and the in flight training needed to become a commercial airline pilot. Mount Royal University Aviation graduates have an average employment rate of 98 per cent. Once licensed to fly the aircraft, newly-hired graduates follow Sunwing Airlines’ continuous program of line indoctrination and receive mentoring to ensure that they achieve their career goals. Overall, the airline plans to hire between eight and 10 new first officers from its cadet program this coming year.
