First Officer, A320 Fleet

Etihad Airways invites qualified and ambitious aviation professionals to join its expanding team as a First Officer on the A320 fleet. As the national airline of the UAE, based in Abu Dhabi, Etihad is renowned for transforming the aviation industry through creativity, innovation, and a commitment to sustainability, while providing guests and employees with thoughtful, remarkable experiences.

With ambitious plans for growth and expansion to new destinations, Etihad Airways is investing significantly in its future and its people. Joining Etihad offers not just a career path with extensive progression opportunities but also a vibrant lifestyle choice in Abu Dhabi, consistently ranked among the world's safest cities.

A Life in Abu Dhabi

Experience the benefits of building a life in a dynamic, cosmopolitan city. Abu Dhabi provides an exceptional quality of life for employees and their families, featuring:

Tax-free salaries
Comprehensive health insurance coverage
Concessionary travel benefits
Access to gym memberships and other lifestyle discounts

Competitive Compensation and Benefits

Etihad Airways offers a highly competitive annual package designed to attract and retain top aviation talent. The package includes a basic salary, flying pay, housing allowance to support personal accommodation choices, and allowances for layovers and meals.

There is an opportunity to earn up to 513,732 AED (USD 138,318) tax-free per annum based on 75 hours of flying per month. The package includes annual salary increments based on performance and comprehensive additional benefits:

Education allowance of AED 40,000 for primary and AED 55,000 for secondary schooling, for up to 3 children
Income protection scheme
42 days of annual leave
Industry-leading staff travel benefits and access to Etihad’s exclusive iSave discount programme
End-of-service benefits
Accidental and life insurance coverage

The Role of a First Officer

A First Officer on the A320 fleet operates as a key member of the flight crew, supporting the Captain and ensuring the safe and efficient conduct of all flights. Key responsibilities include:

Ensuring the flight is conducted in strict compliance with the current flight plan, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and the Captain's instructions. When the Captain is not at the controls, the First Officer is responsible for notifying them of any changes to the flight plan, air traffic control instructions, or geographical position upon their return.
Providing assistance to the Captain as requested, concerning any administrative duties related to the flight.
Confirming the safe navigation of the aircraft, maintaining a continuous and independent check upon both the geographical position of the aircraft and ensuring safe terrain and weather clearance.
Maintaining high personal standards of discipline, conduct, and appearance at all times as a professional representative of Etihad Airways.

Required Qualifications

To be considered for the First Officer position, candidates must demonstrate the following qualifications and experience:

A minimum of 2500 hours total flying time.
A minimum of 1500 hours on multi-crew, glass cockpit aircraft (1) or high-performance military jet.
A minimum of 500 hours specifically on one of the A320 Family aircraft.
Experience having flown any Airbus Fly-by-Wire (FBW) aircraft within the last 12 months.
A valid Type Rating on the A320, which must remain valid for a minimum of 2 months at the anticipated time of joining Etihad Airways.
Holding a current and unrestricted ICAO Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL). Frozen ATPLs are not accepted unless held by a UAE citizen.
Current on the A320 aircraft.
Holding an unrestricted, current Class 1 medical certificate.
Candidates must not exceed 50 years of age at the time of application.
Demonstrated English Language Fluency (written and verbal) at Level 4 or better.
In cases where flight hours were accumulated on flights with inflight relief, 75% of those hours will be counted towards the required minimums.

(1) Glass Cockpit: refers to aircraft equipped with a Flight Management System (FMS) coupled to an Autopilot Flight Director System (APFDS).

About Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways, established in 2003, has rapidly grown to become one of the world's leading airlines. Operating from its hub in Abu Dhabi, Etihad connects passengers and cargo to destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. Through extensive codeshare partnerships, Etihad's network provides access to hundreds of international destinations. The airline has received numerous accolades for its superior service, products, cargo operations, and loyalty program. Etihad was also recognised for its leading response to COVID-19, being the first airline globally to fully vaccinate its operating crew.

Etihad Airways is deeply committed to addressing the climate crisis, pursuing industry decarbonisation relentlessly through strategic collaborations with major global aviation brands and OEMs.

Interested pilots who meet the specified criteria are invited to submit their details for consideration. The recruitment team will be in touch to confirm next steps if the criteria are met. Please note that upcoming assessment events include a session in Madrid. Candidates based in the region are encouraged to apply specifically for the Madrid event. Information regarding future assessment events in other locations will be announced shortly.