Aer Lingus says it has received over 2,800 applications for 12 places in its Cadet Pilot Training Programme for 2016.

Since the programme was re-introduced, the airline says almost 60 cadets have been chosen - of which 15% have been female.

This year's group of 12 hail from the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

The cadets will begin a 14-month training course during January with flight training organisation FTEJerez, based in Spain.

The training includes five months of ground school followed by initial flight training on single and multi-engine aircraft.

The cadets will then return to Dublin to complete further training - including an airline transition course - and their A320 Type Rating course.

Following the successful completion of this, the cadets will receive their wings and start flying the airline's fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft.

This is the fourth Aer Lingus Cadet Pilot Training Programme to commence since 2011.

Welcoming the new recruits, Chief Operating Officer Mike Rutter said: "Aer Lingus has a proud history of providing young people with long term career opportunities through pilot cadetships, apprentice engineer programmes and other graduate training programmes".

"We believe in investing in the future and providing young people with the opportunity to enjoy long and fulfilling careers in aviation".