As the United Kingdom's flag carrier, British Airways connects Britain with the world and the world with Britain. With over 100 years of pioneering history, dating back to the world's first international scheduled air service, originality is deeply ingrained in the airline's culture. British Airways is a place where great things happen when individuals are inspired to think big and bring ambition to their work every day, believing the sky is never the limit.
British Airways is seeking Direct Entry Pilots for the role of First Officer on its Long Haul Fleets. The customer is central to all operations, and the primary goal is to provide an exceptional flight experience for every passenger. Pilots are expected to deliver world-class flying performance on every journey. The life of a commercial pilot at British Airways is dynamic and challenging, demanding adherence to the highest standards daily.
A career path with British Airways is flexible and offers numerous opportunities. Starting on one of the four long-haul fleets, pilots have the option to transfer to other long-haul fleets or the short-haul fleet, progressing towards becoming a Captain. The airline values the lifestyle of its pilots, offering a wide variety of ground-based roles outside of flying, such as training and pilot recruitment, providing countless avenues for professional development. Pilots benefit from opportunities for career advancement within British Airways and access to a competitive reward and benefits package.
To be considered for the Direct Entry Pilot position, candidates must meet the following criteria:
Pilots holding an EASA licence who previously held a UK Part-FCL licence should provide a copy of their previous UK licence or proof of completing training in the UK and being awarded a UK licence in their application.
British Airways values its colleagues and offers a comprehensive rewards package that extends beyond a competitive salary. Benefits include:
Long-haul suitability is assessed during the simulator evaluation. Job offers are predominantly made for the A320 and Boeing 777 fleets. Boeing 777 pilots operate services out of both London Heathrow (LHR) and London Gatwick (LGW) and will operate the Boeing 777X upon its entry into service. A limited number of vacancies may be available on other fleets, with preference given to candidates holding a current rating on the specific aircraft type. Moves to other fleets are processed via the internal fleet move system and awarded based on seniority. Hotel accommodation can be requested and provided for 777 LGW flights on the day before duty and a day room after landing, if the flight duty period exceeds 8 hours and is not a positioning sector.
Candidates who are not successful at initial screening, video interview, capacity testing, or assessment centre stages are eligible to reapply for the pilot recruitment campaign after 6 months from their most recent assessment date. Candidates unsuccessful at the simulator stage must wait 12 months before reapplying. Applicants may only apply to one airline within the British Airways family (British Airways, Euroflyer, or Cityflyer) concurrently. If unsuccessful in one campaign, candidates are ineligible to reapply to any of the three airlines until the specified re-apply period has passed. Successful candidates are placed in a hold pool and may receive a maximum of two job offers. Turning down a second job offer results in exiting the hold pool and requiring reapplication after 12 months, completing the entire selection process anew.
British Airways recognises that all colleagues are uniquely different and bring their own originality, creativity, and identity to work. People from all backgrounds are encouraged to be part of the journey towards becoming a Better British Airways. British Airways is an equal opportunities employer and values diversity, not discriminating based on race, religion, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
This job description provides essential information regarding the scope of the role and the nature of the work but is not an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with the position.