Las Vegas-headquartered Thrive Aviation has partnered with the Southwest Airlines Destination 225° Pilot Pathways Program. By building hours with verified partners, the Cadet Pathway creates opportunities for new pilots to become Southwest Airlines first officers in as little as four years. Thrive Aviation is eager to welcome cadets to the Thrive Aviation flight line.

"As a Southwest Airlines alumnus, this is certainly a full circle moment for me. The programme catalyses a new pilot's aviation career, offering them mentorship, training and the opportunity to build the needed hours," says CEO Curtis Edenfield.

The Destination 225° Pilot Pathways Program paves the way for those launching their dream of an aviation career and gets them started on the right foot. Cadets undergo a two-step process; the first phase is completing various courses and flight training requirements. From there, cadets earn their first few hours of single and multi-engine aircraft and simulator training. Once achieved, cadets receive their commercial pilot's licence. The programme's second phase includes cadets becoming certified flight instructors, earning additional hours and qualifying them to apply for the programme's various partners until they're competitively qualified for an opportunity to join the Southwest crew.

"Southwest is excited to welcome Thrive Aviation to our Destination 225° Pilot Pathways Program as a new partner in our Cadet Pathway," says Lee Kinnebrew, vice president flight operations at Southwest Airlines. "The programme aims to support and inspire pilots interested in joining Southwest as a first officer, and we look forward to working with cadet candidates as they build flight experience."

Thrive Aviation has also found great success and value in its involvement with Southwest Business and Southwest Business Assist. Its engagement at the national account level solidifies the continued and ongoing partnership across multiple levels that Thrive Aviation has with Southwest Airlines.

Edenfield continues: "Southwest Business has proven invaluable to Thrive Aviation and our operation. We rely on Southwest Business weekly, often daily, to fly our employees across the entire network. It's an incredible tool, and we could not be happier."