Direct Entry Pilots
Your Next Career Move Starts Here
Industry-leading opportunities for Captains and First Officers across the Ryanair Group
Why join our fantastic team: Why not?
Apart from growing faster than any other airline, we have one of the youngest fleets in the industry, flying to a wide variety of exciting destinations and offering fantastic career opportunities for both Captains and First Officers.
What we offer…
- Local contracts with local tax in each country
- Outstanding earnings potential (including guaranteed min. hours for contractors)
- Captains can earn up to £155,500/€165,000 p.a. in year 1!
- The best roster in the business; stable 5 on 4 off pattern
- No planned overnights and roster published 4 weeks in advance – amazing work-life balance!
- Great base opportunities available at many locations across our vast network
- Unrivalled career progression – new aircraft and bases create endless promotional opportunities
- Fastest time to command in the aviation sector
- Opportunity to join our fast-growing training department
- Industry-leading training with outstanding success rates
We currently have Direct Entry Captains open vacancies across the Ryanair Group. Click on the button below and get ready for your career to take off today!
Application Process
Apply
Create a candidate profile, upload all required documents and apply to any roles in which you may be interested in.
Application Screening
Once you apply, a member of our team will review the application and reach out by email or phone if we wish to progress further.
Online Assessment
Candidates who meet the requirements will be invited to an online assessment which must be completed prior to attend the SIM assessment. The profile of this differs between Captains and First Officers.
SIM Assessment
The assessment itself takes place in one day at one of our SIM centres across Europe and includes a SIM Assessment, HR Interview and Technical Interview.
Course Book
You will be notified of the assessment result within 1 week and if successful, a member of our team will call to arrange an upcoming course date. The base will also be confirmed at offer stage.
World-class training
At Ryanair, training and standardisation are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to maintaining the highest operational and safety standards, providing our pilots with industry-leading training, modern facilities, and continuous professional development throughout their careers. From initial induction to command upgrade and instructor pathways, our structured training programmes are designed to support pilots at every stage of their journey and help them reach their full potential.
Who are we looking for?
We’re seeking motivated, professional, and safety-focused pilots who are passionate about delivering operational excellence. Whether you’re an experienced Captain or First Officer, you’ll thrive in an environment that rewards commitment, professionalism, and performance. Successful candidates will demonstrate:
- A strong safety mindset and commitment to the highest operational standards
- Excellent leadership, communication, and crew resource management (CRM) skills
- A professional and customer-focused approach
- The ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic operation
- A positive attitude and commitment to continuous learning and development
- Strong decision-making skills and sound judgement under pressure
- Flexibility, adaptability, and a team-oriented mindset
- A desire to build a long-term career within Europe’s largest airline group
If you’re looking for outstanding career opportunities, exceptional progression prospects, and the chance to be part of one of the most successful airline groups in the world, then we’d love to hear from you!
Latest Pilot Vacancies
Ryanair is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, colour, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.
As per our Non-Discrimination Policy as well as other applicable regulations, we adhere and comply to these principles in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, promotions, compensations and benefits, training and discipline. Applications for employment can only be made through the channels detailed on this website. Applicants who canvass (by phone, direct contact or through existing employees) will be disqualified.