BUDGET carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) has partnered with Airworks Aviation for a 96-week cadet pilot program that will provide training for candidates to become licensed commercial pilots.

Both parties signed a memorandum of agreement on Thursday to formalize the collaboration.

"We're thrilled to offer aspiring pilots the opportunity to become commercially licensed through our Cadet Pilot Program," CEB Vice President Samuel Avila II said.

"Currently, we are the only airline in the Philippines with a cadet pilot program. This initiative will allow us to produce highly skilled pilots ready to provide safe, convenient, and reliable flights for every Juan," he added.

The application process will run from June 7 to 13, 2024.

"For thirty years, Airworks Aviation has grown steadily to enable aspiring pilots to pursue a career in aviation," Airworks Aviation President Vincent Charles Ong said.

"This cadet pilot program, which we launched together with Cebu Pacific, will allow us to further provide aspiring pilots with the means to fulfill their dreams at the most competitive cost and incentives. Together, we are forging the future of aviation in the country," he added.

Candidates who pass CEB's panel interview will be referred to a partner health facility for medical assessment and then scheduled for training.

The program is divided into three phases, starting with a four-week Aviation Foundation Course in Pasay City.

For the second phase, the cadets will undergo 68 weeks of basic flight training at the Airworks Aviation Academy in Cebu.

The last phase is a 24-week airline integration training in Pasay City.

Cebu Pacific has also teamed up with the Bank of the Philippine Islands to provide loan offers for cadets, sponsors, and parents.

On Thursday, shares of Cebu Pacific operator Cebu Air Inc. rose by 40 centavos to close at P27 apiece.