Ryanair Reaches Out to Previous Applicants in Pilot Hiring Frenzy
Joe Cortez September 27, 2017
Low-cost carrier reaches out to previous applicants, while seeking new Learjet and Boeing 737 aviators.
Despite leadership claiming there is no pilot shortage at Ryanair, the human resources team is encouraging pilots to submit applications as soon as possible. The Irish Examiner reports the airline is specifically searching for pilots rated on the Learjet and Boeing 737, as well as non-type rated captains.
The increased interest in new pilots comes after Ryanair was forced to cancel hundreds of flights through the end of October. While the company claims the cancellations are due to changing regulations and responding to air traffic controller strikes, one former employee said that the cancellations come from poor working conditions inside the carrier.
An effort to bring in more aviators is not just focused on outside applicants. According to the newspaper, the airline is also reaching out to former applicants, asking them for reasons why they did not join the carrier. Focused specifically on base choice issues, the Examiner suggests that Ryanair is asking when pilots could start if their preferred base were to become available. The tactic is paired with a signing bonus of just over $11,000 to qualified hires.
While human resources wants to hire new pilots, executives at the airline claim that there is no shortage of captains or first officers. In comments to the press, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said that there was no talent shortage in the cockpit, nor was he aware of one. However, data suggests that there could be a pilot shortage in the future, with airlines expanding faster than new aviators can be trained.
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