How many airlines offer cadet pilot programs?

25 airlines currently offer cadet or ab-initio pilot training programmes, ranging from fully sponsored programs at Emirates and Qatar Airways to self-funded options at Ryanair and easyJet.

Airline Pilot Recruitment — Which Airlines Are Hiring Pilots in 2026?

Q: Which airlines are hiring pilots in 2026?

50 airlines are currently actively hiring pilots in 2026, including major carriers like Delta, United, Emirates, Ryanair, and Singapore Airlines.

Q: What is the typical airline pilot recruitment process?

The typical airline pilot recruitment process involves: 1) Online application, 2) Aptitude/psychometric testing, 3) Simulator assessment, 4) Panel/HR interview, 5) Medical and background check. The entire process typically takes 2-6 months.

Browse recruitment guides for 55 airlines worldwide. 50 airlines are currently actively hiring pilots. 25 offer cadet programs for aspiring pilots with no experience.

Airlines

Actively Hiring

Cadet Programs

Regions

Airlines Hiring Pilots Right Now (50)

APPLICATIONS OPEN

Delta Air Lines

HIRING

United States · North America

8 bases · 9 fleet types

Cadet program available

United Airlines

HIRING

United States · North America

7 bases · 6 fleet types

Cadet program available

American Airlines

HIRING

United States · North America

10 bases · 5 fleet types

Cadet program available

Southwest Airlines

HIRING

United States · North America

9 bases · 3 fleet types

SkyWest Airlines

HIRING

United States · North America

9 bases · 4 fleet types

Cadet program available

Republic Airways

HIRING

United States · North America

5 bases · 2 fleet types

Cadet program available

Envoy Air

HIRING

United States · North America

5 bases · 2 fleet types

Cadet program available

PSA Airlines

HIRING

United States · North America

4 bases · 2 fleet types

Endeavor Air

HIRING

United States · North America

5 bases · 2 fleet types

Mesa Airlines

HIRING

United States · North America

3 bases · 2 fleet types

Horizon Air

HIRING

United States · North America

4 bases · 1 fleet types

Cadet program available

JetBlue Airways

HIRING

United States · North America

5 bases · 3 fleet types

Cadet program available

Alaska Airlines

HIRING

United States · North America

5 bases · 3 fleet types

Frontier Airlines

HIRING

United States · North America

5 bases · 2 fleet types

Hawaiian Airlines

HIRING

United States · North America

4 bases · 2 fleet types

Allegiant Air

HIRING

United States · North America

6 bases · 2 fleet types

Sun Country Airlines

HIRING

United States · North America

1 bases · 1 fleet types

FedEx Express

HIRING

United States · North America

6 bases · 5 fleet types

UPS Airlines

HIRING

United States · North America

6 bases · 6 fleet types

Atlas Air

HIRING

United States · North America

5 bases · 3 fleet types

Ryanair

HIRING

Ireland · Europe

10 bases · 2 fleet types

Cadet program available

easyJet

HIRING

United Kingdom · Europe

10 bases · 3 fleet types

Cadet program available

Wizz Air

HIRING

Hungary · Europe

8 bases · 3 fleet types

Cadet program available

Lufthansa

HIRING

Germany · Europe

5 bases · 7 fleet types

Cadet program available

British Airways

HIRING

United Kingdom · Europe

3 bases · 5 fleet types

Cadet program available

Air France

HIRING

France · Europe

2 bases · 5 fleet types

Cadet program available

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

HIRING

Netherlands · Europe

1 bases · 4 fleet types

Cadet program available

Turkish Airlines

HIRING

Turkey · Europe

1 bases · 6 fleet types

Cadet program available

Norwegian Air Shuttle

HIRING

Norway · Europe

7 bases · 2 fleet types

Swiss International Air Lines

HIRING

Switzerland · Europe

2 bases · 5 fleet types

SAS Scandinavian Airlines

HIRING

Sweden/Denmark/Norway · Europe

3 bases · 3 fleet types

Aer Lingus

HIRING

Ireland · Europe

3 bases · 3 fleet types

Finnair

HIRING

Finland · Europe

1 bases · 3 fleet types

TAP Air Portugal

HIRING

Portugal · Europe

2 bases · 2 fleet types

Emirates

HIRING

United Arab Emirates · Middle East

1 bases · 4 fleet types

Cadet program available

Qatar Airways

HIRING

Qatar · Middle East

1 bases · 7 fleet types

Cadet program available

Etihad Airways

HIRING

United Arab Emirates · Middle East

1 bases · 4 fleet types

Cadet program available

flydubai

HIRING

United Arab Emirates · Middle East

2 bases · 2 fleet types

Singapore Airlines

HIRING

Singapore · Asia-Pacific

1 bases · 5 fleet types

Cadet program available

Cathay Pacific

HIRING

Hong Kong · Asia-Pacific

1 bases · 5 fleet types

Cadet program available

Qantas Airways

HIRING

Australia · Asia-Pacific

4 bases · 4 fleet types

Cadet program available

Korean Air

HIRING

South Korea · Asia-Pacific

2 bases · 8 fleet types

AirAsia

HIRING

Malaysia · Asia-Pacific

5 bases · 2 fleet types

Cadet program available

IndiGo

HIRING

India · Asia-Pacific

6 bases · 2 fleet types

Cadet program available

Air Canada

HIRING

Canada · North America

4 bases · 7 fleet types

Cadet program available

WestJet

HIRING

Canada · North America

3 bases · 3 fleet types

LATAM Airlines

HIRING

Chile · Latin America

4 bases · 4 fleet types

Avianca

HIRING

Colombia · Latin America

3 bases · 3 fleet types

Copa Airlines

HIRING

Panama · Latin America

1 bases · 2 fleet types

Aeromexico

HIRING

Mexico · Latin America

3 bases · 3 fleet types

North America (23)

22 actively hiring

Delta Air Lines

HIRING

United States

A220-100/300A319/320/321A330-200/300/900+6 more

Cadet program available

United Airlines

HIRING

United States

A319/320/321B737-700/800/900/MAXB757-200/300+3 more

Cadet program available

American Airlines

HIRING

United States

A319/320/321A321neo/XLRB737-800/MAX+2 more

Cadet program available

Southwest Airlines

HIRING

United States

B737-700B737-800B737 MAX 7/8

SkyWest Airlines

HIRING

United States

CRJ-200CRJ-700CRJ-900+1 more

Cadet program available

Republic Airways

HIRING

United States

ERJ-170ERJ-175

Cadet program available

Envoy Air

HIRING

United States

ERJ-145ERJ-175

Cadet program available

PSA Airlines

HIRING

United States

CRJ-700CRJ-900

Endeavor Air

HIRING

United States

CRJ-200CRJ-900

Mesa Airlines

HIRING

United States

CRJ-900ERJ-175

Horizon Air

HIRING

United States

ERJ-175

Cadet program available

JetBlue Airways

HIRING

United States

A220-300A320-200A321-200/neo/LR

Cadet program available

Alaska Airlines

HIRING

United States

B737-800/900/MAXA320neo/A321neoERJ-175

Frontier Airlines

HIRING

United States

A320neoA321neo

Hawaiian Airlines

HIRING

United States

A321neoB787-9

Allegiant Air

HIRING

United States

A319A320

Sun Country Airlines

HIRING

United States

B737-800

FedEx Express

HIRING

United States

A300-600FB757-200FB767-300F+2 more

UPS Airlines

HIRING

United States

A300-600FB747-400FB757-200F+3 more

Atlas Air

HIRING

United States

B747-400FB767-200/300FB777-200LRF

Air Canada

HIRING

Canada

A220-300A319/320/321A330-300+4 more

Cadet program available

WestJet

HIRING

Canada

B737-600/700/800/MAXB767-300B787-9

Spirit Airlines

PAUSED

United States

A320-200A320neoA321-200

Europe (15)

14 actively hiring

Ryanair

HIRING

Ireland

B737-800B737 MAX 8-200

Cadet program available

easyJet

HIRING

United Kingdom

A319A320-200/neoA321neo

Cadet program available

Wizz Air

HIRING

Hungary

A320-200A320neoA321neo

Cadet program available

Lufthansa

HIRING

Germany

A319/320/321A330-300A340-300/600+4 more

Cadet program available

British Airways

HIRING

United Kingdom

A319/320/321neoA350-1000A380-800+2 more

Cadet program available

Air France

HIRING

France

A318/319/320/321A330-200A350-900+2 more

Cadet program available

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

HIRING

Netherlands

B737-700/800/900A330-200/300B777-200/300+1 more

Cadet program available

Turkish Airlines

HIRING

Turkey

A319/320/321A330-200/300A350-900+3 more

Cadet program available

Norwegian Air Shuttle

HIRING

Norway

B737-800B737 MAX 8

Swiss International Air Lines

HIRING

Switzerland

A220-100/300A320/321A330-300+2 more

SAS Scandinavian Airlines

HIRING

Sweden/Denmark/Norway

A319/320/321neoA330-300A350-900

Aer Lingus

HIRING

Ireland

A320-200/neoA321neo/LRA330-300

Finnair

HIRING

Finland

A319/320/321A330-300A350-900

TAP Air Portugal

HIRING

Portugal

A320/321neoA330-900neo

Iberia

SEASONAL

Spain

A319/320/321A330-200A350-900

Middle East (5)

4 actively hiring

Emirates

HIRING

United Arab Emirates

A380-800B777-200LRB777-300ER+1 more

Cadet program available

Qatar Airways

HIRING

Qatar

A320/321A330-200/300A350-900/1000+4 more

Cadet program available

Etihad Airways

HIRING

United Arab Emirates

A321neoA350-1000B777-200/300+1 more

Cadet program available

flydubai

HIRING

United Arab Emirates

B737-800B737 MAX 8/9

Saudia

UPCOMING

Saudi Arabia

A320/321neoA330-300B777-300ER+1 more

Asia-Pacific (8)

6 actively hiring

Singapore Airlines

HIRING

Singapore

A350-900A380-800B737-800/MAX+2 more

Cadet program available

Cathay Pacific

HIRING

Hong Kong

A321neoA330-300A350-900/1000+2 more

Cadet program available

Qantas Airways

HIRING

Australia

A330-200/300A380-800B737-800+1 more

Cadet program available

Korean Air

HIRING

South Korea

A220-300A321neoA330-200/300+5 more

AirAsia

HIRING

Malaysia

A320-200/neoA321neo

Cadet program available

IndiGo

HIRING

India

A320-200/neoA321neo

Cadet program available

All Nippon Airways

SEASONAL

Japan

A320/321neoA380-800B737-800+3 more

Japan Airlines

SEASONAL

Japan

A350-900/1000B737-800B767-300+2 more

Latin America (4)

4 actively hiring

LATAM Airlines

HIRING

Chile

A319/320/321neoB767-300B777-300ER+1 more

Avianca

HIRING

Colombia

A319/320/321neoA330-200B787-8

Copa Airlines

HIRING

Panama

B737-800B737 MAX 9

Aeromexico

HIRING

Mexico

B737 MAX 8/9B787-8/9E190

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical airline pilot recruitment process?

Most airlines follow a similar process: 1) Online application with certificates and logbook, 2) Aptitude and psychometric testing (cognitive, multi-tasking, personality), 3) Simulator assessment (hand-flying, instrument procedures, CRM), 4) Panel or HR interview (behavioral, technical, motivational), 5) Medical examination and background check. The process typically takes 2-6 months from application to start date.

Can I become an airline pilot with no experience?

Yes, through cadet or ab-initio pilot programmes. Airlines like Emirates, Lufthansa, British Airways, Ryanair, easyJet, and others offer structured training pathways that take you from zero flight hours to First Officer. Some are fully sponsored while others are self-funded (costing EUR 80,000-120,000).

How do I prepare for airline pilot aptitude tests?

Practice with dedicated pilot aptitude test preparation tools (COMPASS, PILAPT, ADAPT). Focus on mental math, multi-tasking, spatial awareness, and instrument comprehension. Most candidates prepare for 2-4 weeks before their assessment. Getting adequate rest before test day is crucial.

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