Etihad Airways | A320 First Officer

A320 First Officer

Propel Your Aviation Career with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi

Etihad Airways is currently offering exceptional opportunities for skilled and professional A320 First Officers to join its rapidly expanding global operation. This is an extraordinary time to join the national airline of the UAE, which has committed to a clear path to double its fleet by 2030. Having recently launched 27 new destinations and recorded the strongest half-year profit in its history, Etihad is redefining global aviation through innovation, sustainability, and world-class service.

Successful candidates will be based in Abu Dhabi, ranked the world’s safest city in 2025, offering a vibrant and cosmopolitan lifestyle for individuals and their families. This career offers comprehensive benefits, tax-free salaries, concessionary travel, and significant opportunities for progression within the organization.

The Role: First Officer, A320 Fleet

The First Officer is a key member of the flight deck team, providing essential support to the Captain to ensure the safe, secure, and efficient operation of every flight. The First Officer is expected to demonstrate exemplary professionalism, technical proficiency, and strong teamwork, while actively developing the leadership capabilities necessary for future command.

Key Responsibilities

• Assisting the Captain in all facets of flight preparation, navigation, and operation, ensuring strict compliance with Etihad’s operating procedures and global regulatory standards.
• Maintaining a continuous, independent check of the aircraft’s position, surrounding terrain, and meteorological conditions to guarantee safe navigation throughout all phases of flight.
• Providing concise and critical communication, advice, and support to the Captain to facilitate safe and highly efficient decision-making processes.
• Upholding the highest standards of discipline, conduct, and personal appearance, thereby professionally representing Etihad Airways in all operational and public environments.
• Assuming command of the aircraft, in accordance with established rank and company procedures, should the Captain become incapacitated.

Compensation and Benefits Package

Etihad provides a highly competitive, tax-free package designed to reward performance and support the professional lifestyle in Abu Dhabi. The annual package is inclusive of basic salary, flying pay, housing allowance, and layover/meal allowances. Pilots have the potential to earn up to AED 513,732 (USD 138,318) per year, based on 75 flying hours per month. The salary structure includes performance-based annual increments, complemented by a comprehensive range of benefits:

Pilot Benefits

• Competitive tax-free annual income package.
• Annual education allowance of up to AED 40,000 for primary and AED 55,000 for secondary education per child, covering up to three children.
• 42 days of comprehensive annual leave.
• Industry-leading staff travel benefits and access to Etihad’s exclusive discount programmes.
• Comprehensive income protection scheme.
• Accidental and life insurance coverage.
• End-of-service benefits upon conclusion of service.

Candidate Requirements and Eligibility

To be considered for the role of A320 First Officer, candidates must meet the General Eligibility criteria listed below, in addition to satisfying the requirements of either Criteria A or Criteria B.

Criteria A (Minimum Experience)

• Minimum of 2,000 hours total flying time.
• Minimum of 1,500 hours on multi-crew, glass cockpit MPA(1) aircraft.
• Minimum of 500 hours on type (A320 family).

Criteria B (Minimum Experience)

• Minimum of 1,500 hours total flying time.
• Minimum of 1,000 hours on any A320 family aircraft.

General Eligibility

• Must have flown any A320 family aircraft within the last 12 months.
• Must hold an A320 type rating that is valid for at least two additional months at the time of joining.
• Possession of an unrestricted ATPL or a valid frozen ATPL(2) issued by an ICAO member state.
• Possession of an unrestricted and current Class 1 medical certificate.
• Must not have attained the age of 50 on the date of joining the airline.
• Demonstrated English language fluency (written and verbal) at ICAO Level 4 or higher.

(1) Glass Cockpit: defined as an aircraft equipped with a Flight Management System (FMS) coupled to the Auto-Pilot Flight Director System (APFDS).

(2) Holders of a Frozen ATPL License (CPL) must provide proof of the ATPL Theoretical Knowledge Examination results and an integrated ATPL course completion certificate.

About Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, was established in 2003 and has rapidly evolved into one of the world's premier airlines. Operating from its hub in Abu Dhabi, Etihad services passenger and cargo destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. Through strategic codeshare partnerships, the airline’s network provides seamless access to hundreds of global destinations. Etihad continues to receive numerous awards for its superior service, cargo offerings, and acclaimed loyalty programme. This recruitment drives the airline's ambitious Journey 2030 strategy, which targets doubling its fleet size and tripling its customer base over the next six years, reinforcing its position as the airline everyone wants to fly.

To learn more, please visit the company's official career portal.

Recruitment Fraud Alert

Candidates are advised to beware of fraudulent job offers from individuals or organizations claiming to represent the Etihad group. Etihad Airways will never request personal financial information, bank details, or payment during any stage of the recruitment process. Interviews are strictly conducted face-to-face or via official video/telephone calls prior to any formal job offer. If a candidate is asked for money, the offer should be treated as fraudulent.