Emirates attracts pilots with higher salaries, new perks

Emirates Airline has announced significant changes to its pilot recruitment strategy, which includes higher salaries, new roles and a radical change to eligibility.

This announcement coincided with the celebration of World Pilots’ Day on April 26.

The Dubai-based airline is revving up its pilot recruitment drive as it prepares to start taking delivery of 65 A350s on order from mid-year and a mix of 205 777-9s and 777-8s in 2025.

In 2024, Emirates’ recruitment team will host roadshows in more than 26 cities in over 18 countries.

First Officers – non-type rated

Emirates is welcoming First Officers who are non-type rated – which essentially means those who have experience only on turbo prop or jets.

These pilots will now have the opportunity to be fully trained to fly the airline’s all wide-body fleet of 144 Boeing aircraft across its network that spans more than 140 destinations. First Officers will also be able to fly 205 of the new Boeing 777-Xs when these aircraft enter the fleet from 2025.

Accelerated Command Programme for Boeing 777s

The airline has now extended its Accelerated Command Programme (ACP) to its fleet of Boeing 777s – which so far was reserved for its ever-popular A380.

This is an incredible opportunity for motivated captains flying narrow-body aircraft to graduate to wide-body on Emirates’ fast track promotion programme.

Direct Entry Captain – A350 fleet

Emirates is now calling for Direct Entry Captains (DEC) to command its highly anticipated A350 fleet of 65 aircraft. As an added incentive, the airline has also increased the base salary for the new recruits on both the A350s and A380s.

Deliveries of the A350s will start mid-year and serve both new and existing destinations. The airline continues to welcome DECs for its fleet of A380s.

First Officers 

Emirates is offering enhanced salary packages for First Officers with experience of over 4,000 flying hours on modern Airbus fly-by-wire or Boeing aircraft.

Emirates currently has over 4,400 pilots. In 2023, the airline recruited more than 420 pilots with its recruitment programmes – Direct Entry Captains, Accelerated Command and First Officers.

We've unveiled exciting updates to our pilot recruitment process. Learn more about the new packages, roles, and eligibility criteria! https://t.co/mMFhNJ7eFw pic.twitter.com/iFDT8f6IG3

— Emirates (@emirates) April 30, 2024