EasyJet celebrates birthday of its oldest employee – 'Nana Pam', 73

EasyJet celebrates the birthday of its oldest employee – 73-year-old cabin crew member ‘Nana Pam’, who has served over 800,000 passengers

• Former hairdresser Pam Clark signed up to become a flight attendant at 53 
• She is easyJet’s new recruitment ambassador for employees aged over 45
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EasyJet is celebrating the birthday of its oldest employee, cabin crew member Pam Clark, who is turning 73 this week.

The grandmother, soon to become a great-grandmother, has flown over 4,500 flights for the airline and served 800,000 passengers over the course of her career. Among those taken under her wing have been premiership footballers, TV stars, and a ‘precious trombone needing its own seat’, easyJet reveals. 

A former hairdresser, Pam was on an easyJet flight to Madrid 20 years ago when she picked up a recruitment advertisement and was inspired to make her childhood dream of working in aviation come true – at the age of 53.

Despite her initial fears that she would stand out among younger colleagues, she found she was welcomed into the team and impressed the airline with her ‘exceptional customer service and people skills’. 

Now, Pam – known as ‘Nana Pam’ to her regular passengers – is hoping to inspire others like her to follow their dreams just as she did, in her newly appointed role as easyJet’s recruitment ambassador for people aged over 45.

EasyJet is celebrating the birthday of its oldest employee, cabin crew member Pam Clark

Soon to become a great-grandmother Pam, who is turning 73 this week, has flown over 4,500 flights for easyJet and served 800,000 passengers over the course of her career

Pam has been newly appointed as easyJet’s recruitment ambassador for people aged over 45

Pam, who celebrated her birthday with a plane-shaped cake this week, said: ‘My advice to anyone over the age of 45 thinking about applying for a role as cabin crew at easyJet would be to go for it.

‘When I applied for the role 20 years ago, I knew that my age and experience meant I had something really valuable to offer.

‘Nowadays, I’m meeting more and more colleagues like me who have made a brave career change later in life. Don’t be afraid!’

She continues: ‘My favourite part of the job has been meeting passengers from all over the world and giving them the most enjoyable travel experience possible. I’m proud to work at a company that puts people first.’

Since the launch of easyJet’s new over 45s recruitment campaign last year, the airline has seen 10 per cent more applications from employees aged 45 and over.

Twenty years ago, Pam picked up a recruitment advertisement on an easyJet flight and was inspired to make her childhood dream of working in aviation come true. Above is a framed photograph showing her completing her recruitment training

‘My advice to anyone over the age of 45 thinking about applying for a role as cabin crew at easyJet would be to go for it,’ says Pam 

Research carried out by the carrier last year found that 78 per cent of parents aged 45 and over wanted to take on a new challenge once their children fly the nest.

Over half (57 per cent) of the 2,000 Britons aged over 45 who were surveyed said they hoped to find a career they were truly passionate about now their children were not dependent on them, the airline reveals.

Jane Storm, Group People Director at easyJet, said: ‘At easyJet, we put people at the heart of everything we do. 

‘We’re incredibly proud to have Pam on our team and she is a testament to our warm and welcoming cabin crew, who have a passion for great customer service. 

‘We would encourage people of all ages who share our passion to come on board and with Pam’s 73rd birthday just around the corner, we’re hopeful she will inspire even more talented people to join us in the future.’

Aspiring easyJet cabin crew can sign up for the role on the carrier’s website. 

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