For pilots looking to advance their careers, 2025 is already proving to be one of the busiest years in recent memory for airline recruitment. Airlines across Europe, the UK, and internationally are actively hiring direct entry captains, experienced first officers, cadets, and even ab-initio trainees. From short-haul lifestyle roles to long-haul widebody opportunities, the options available to pilots this year are extensive.

This article provides an overview of current airline pilot jobs in 2025, highlighting requirements, benefits, and application details to help you plan your next career move.

Wizz Air Pilot Recruitment 2025

Wizz Air continues to expand across Europe and is recruiting for:

  • Direct Entry Captains, Type Rated and Non-Type Rated
  • Experienced First Officers, Type Rated and Non-Type Rated
  • Cadet First Officers
  • Wizz Air Pilot Academy, ab-initio training

Bases include London Gatwick, London Luton, Hungary, Malta, and other EU locations.

Key benefits include flexible rosters (5/4, 14/7, 20/10, 14/14), accommodation allowances, retention bonuses of up to €40,000, and career progression from cadet to captain with fast-track upgrades.

Selection events are taking place across Europe, with additional recruitment in the UK and a USA roadshow later this year.

Loganair Pilot Recruitment 2025

Loganair, the UK’s largest regional airline, is hiring for:

  • Direct Entry Captains
  • Fast Track to Command First Officers

Bases include Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Newcastle, and the Isle of Man.

Captains can expect salaries between £72,000 and £89,000 plus sector pay. First Officers entering the fast-track scheme benefit from a clear command pathway with no seniority delays. Rosters are published eight weeks in advance and most flying is short regional sectors, allowing pilots to be home most nights.

Virgin Atlantic Pilot Recruitment 2025

Virgin Atlantic is recruiting for:

  • First Officers and Senior First Officers – Airbus A320, A330, A350, A380
  • First Officers and Senior First Officers – Boeing B737, B747, B757, B767, B777, B787

Requirements range from 1,500 hours for First Officers to 3,000 hours for Senior First Officers, with valid type ratings and UK ATPL.

Bases: London Heathrow and Manchester.

Fleet: Airbus A350, A330-300, A330neo, and Boeing 787-9.

Virgin Atlantic offers long-haul flying to global destinations, career progression, and a young, fuel-efficient fleet with a strong focus on sustainability.

British Airways Pilot Recruitment 2025

British Airways is running multiple recruitment campaigns across its divisions:

  • BA Mainline, Heathrow: Direct Entry First Officers for B777 with opportunities on B787, A380, A350, and A320.
  • BA CityFlyer, London City and Edinburgh: Direct Entry Captains for the Embraer 190 fleet.
  • BA Euroflyer, Gatwick: Direct Entry Captains for the A320 fleet with a salary of £114,000 plus allowances.

British Airways offers competitive packages, funded type ratings, staff travel, and defined pathways to long-haul fleets.

easyJet Pilot Recruitment 2025

easyJet is hiring across its European network for:

  • Captains, A320 rated and non-rated
  • Co-Pilots, including Second Officer, First Officer, and Senior First Officer positions

Requirements include 4,000 hours for captains and a minimum of 500 hours on A320 or equivalent aircraft for co-pilots.

easyJet offers short-haul flying, rare night stops, fixed roster patterns, modern A320neo aircraft, and progression to training and management positions.

Titan Airways Pilot Recruitment 2025

Titan Airways UK is recruiting for:

  • Non-Type Rated First Officers – A320 Fleet

Bases: London Stansted and London Gatwick.

Requirements include 1,500 total hours, 1,000 hours on turboprop or light jet in a multicrew environment, and a UK ATPL. Contracts are part-year, with eight months of work and four months off, paid across 12 months at 76 percent of annual salary.

Jet2.com Pilot Recruitment 2025

Jet2 is currently recruiting for:

  • Captains – Type Rated A321 and B737, and Non-Type Rated
  • First Officers – Type Rated A321 and B737, and Non-Type Rated
  • Future Second Officers – entry pathway for cadets

Jet2 offers rostered schedules, permanent contracts, and career development in an airline that has been voted Best Short Haul Airline multiple times.

Emirates Pilot Recruitment 2025

Emirates continues to grow and is hiring for:

  • Direct Entry Captains – minimum 7,000 hours
  • Accelerated Command – 5,000 hours
  • First Officers – 2,000 hours
  • National Cadet Pilot Programme – from 0 hours

With a Dubai base, tax-free salary, extensive travel benefits, and a fleet of over 260 aircraft including A380 and B777, Emirates remains one of the most sought-after long-haul airlines. Recruitment roadshows are scheduled across Europe and Asia throughout late 2025.

SAS Pilot Recruitment 2025

Scandinavian Airlines is hiring Direct Entry Captains for the A320 fleet in Copenhagen. Minimum requirements include 4,000 total hours, 1,000 PIC hours on A320, EASA ATPL, and the right to work in the EU.

Aer Lingus Pilot Recruitment 2025

Aer Lingus is recruiting Airbus rated pilots with a minimum of 500 hours on type and 1,500 total time. The airline operates both short-haul and long-haul Airbus fleets including the A320, A330, and A350.

Norse Atlantic Airways Pilot Recruitment 2025

Norse Atlantic Airways is seeking First Officers for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Both type rated and non-type rated candidates are being considered. Benefits include a €10,000 sign-on bonus for type rated pilots, a €1,500 commuter allowance, and discounted travel on more than 100 partner airlines.

Preparing for Airline Assessments in 2025

With recruitment opening at so many airlines, competition is high and preparation is essential. This is where Aviation Insider can help you stand out.

Online Preparation:

  • Airline assessment guides tailored to specific carriers
  • Interview preparation courses covering technical and HR questions
  • Aptitude and psychometric test practice

In-Person Training:

  • One-to-one interview coaching with industry professionals
  • Fixed-base simulator sessions to practice scenarios and airline recruitment profiles
  • Full-motion simulator training to replicate real-world airline assessment environments

Aviation Insider provides everything from digital resources to hands-on simulator preparation, ensuring you are fully ready for any airline recruitment process in 2025.

Take the next step in your career with confidence. Visit aviationinsider.com to explore our full range of products and services.

Written by Aviation Insider
3rd October 2025