AER LINGUS has announced plans to hire over 100 pilots.

Launching its largest ever pilot recruitment drive, over 100 direct entry pilot positions are being made available at the airline’s home base in Dublin airport.

Pilots who are hired to fly Airbus type rated planes will start on a package of around €72,000 (including average variable flight associated pay of around €18,000).

Non-Airbus type rated pilots will have a smaller starting package of €59,000, including the same average variable flight associate pay.

Pilots will also receive a contributory pension scheme of 21%.

Speaking at the announcement, Aer Lingus chief operating officer Mike Rutter said:

“We are looking for highly motivated individuals who are committed to delivering our excellent service and who are tuned into the challenging commercial priorities faced by a value carrier in today’s highly competitive aviation sector.”

Essential criteria include:

• A valid EASA issued ATPL (or frozen ATPL)
• A current ME/IR
• MCC qualification
• EASA Class 1 Medical certificate
• Provide 3 verifiable references
• English Language Proficiency level 5 or higher
• Permanently eligible to live and work in the EU with an unrestricted worldwide passport
• Able to pass a strict airport security vetting procedure
• Possession and demonstration of the key competencies outlined below

This announcement comes a week after Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary sent a letter to each and every pilot who works for the airline urging them to stay with the company despite the recent cancellation and rostering controversies affecting the firm.

In a circular seen by this publication, O’Leary asks pilots not to leave for rival airlines.

The letter promises that those who stay loyal to Ryanair will receive a pay increase of €10,000 for captains and €5,000 for first officers.

They will also get a “productivity/loyalty bonus” of €12,000 which it says will be payable from November 2017 to October 28.

Ryanair has also promised that if pilots are offered a better deal by Jet2 or Norwegian Air, then Ryanair will exceed the offer they have received.

The airline announced last month that it was cancelling 18,000 flights from its winter schedule which would affect up to 400,000 customers.

The company said the flight cuts would eliminate all risk of further roster-related flight cancellations “because slower growth creates lots of spare aircraft and crews across Ryanair’s 86 bases this winter”.

Click here to find out more about Aer Lingus new pilot positions.

With reporting by Garreth McNamee

Read: Michael O’Leary asks Ryanair’s pilots to resist offers from rivals

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