Aer Lingus launches fully funded Future Pilot Programme for 2025

Ireland’s national airline, Aer Lingus, has opened applications for its 2025 fully funded Future Pilot Programme – and it’s available to both aspiring pilots with no experience and for those looking for a career change.

Senior Talent Acquisition Programme Manager at Aer Lingus, Linda Byrne, said yesterday, “I am delighted to be able to announce the opening of the 2025 Aer Lingus Future Pilot Programme. This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone seeking a fulfilling and rewarding career within the aviation industry!”

The Aer Lingus Future Pilot Programme combines classroom study and practical flight training in both aircraft and flight simulators. Throughout the course students will also receive regular mentoring, guidance and support from an Aer Lingus pilot.

Successful candidates will begin an intensive training programme lasting over 14 months working with Aer Lingus’s preferred flight training school. Once qualified, pilots will receive a Multi Pilot Licence (MPL) and start flying with the airline.

“Given the limited number of positions available, competition is expected to be extremely high and candidates are advised to carefully prepare for all assessments,” said Aer Lingus.

“Aer Lingus is a career airline focused on the continuous training and development of our pilots. We don’t just recruit First Officers. We recruit and train our future Captains for long and short-haul routes.”

Essential criteria for application

• 18 years of age on or before 10 February 2025
• Fluent in written and spoken English
• Eligible to live and work permanently in the EU/Ireland
• Valid unrestricted worldwide passport
• Able to pass an airport security vetting procedure, including a five-year background check
• Two verifiable references
• Able to obtain an EASA/IAA issued Class 1 Medical, including successfully passing a colour blindness test.
• If you are a not an Irish citizen, you will require a current police disclosure certificate from your home country, if successful.
• If you have resided outside the Republic of Ireland for six months or more, you will also require a current police disclosure certificate from those country/countries.

Application schedule

All completed online application forms must be submitted by 10:00 GMT on Monday 10 February 2025. No further applications will be accepted after that time

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the group assessment stage which will be held in Dublin between Monday 24 March 2025 and Friday 11 April 2025.

Courses start in September 2025.

Apply here