Wizz Air offers free pilot training as it announces recruitment drive in Ireland

Airline is one of the exhibitors at Pilot Careers Live in Dublin

Wizz Air is to hold its first pilot recruitment drive in Ireland as the budget carrier looks to train up 1,200 new pilots by 2028.

Wizz Air is offering to train up pilots for free as the airline launches its first recruitment drive in Ireland this week. 

The budget carrier is seeking to train up 1,200 new pilots across Europe by 2028. The airline, which currently does not fly to Ireland, will be at Pilot Careers Live at the Convention Centre in Dublin on Saturday October 18. Wizz Air is one of a host of exhibitors at the event, with others including Aer Lingus, Ryanair, Atlantic Flight Training Academy, Irish Air Line Pilots' Association (Ialpa), and Munster Technological University. 

Speakers at Pilot Careers Live will include Vincent Greene, a graduate of the Aer Lingus Future Pilot Programme; Lt Callum O’Hare of the Irish Air Corps, Ryanair director of talent; Mark Duffy on the carrier's Ryanair Future Flyer Academy programme; Loganair flight crew recruiter Samantha Alderman-Ross, and EasyJet pilot development training manager Hannah Wells.

Wizz Air plans to expand its fleet and route network towards a target of operating 500 aircraft by 2030. Wizz Air says its pilot training programme "can be fully funded and its selection process takes six months, followed by two years of training leading to qualification as a Wizz Air pilot". Fully trained Wizz Air pilots will earn £40,000 (€46,000) during training, £60,000 (€68,000) when training has been completed rising to £90,000 (€103,000) after two years and reaching up to £200,000 (€230,000) upon promotion to captain.

“Our commitment to training 1,200 new pilots, within the Wizz Air Group, by 2028 represents a major investment in the future of aviation and the UK’s economic landscape. We’re particularly excited to expand our recruitment efforts into Ireland for the first time, and to open the door for people seeking a career change," said Wizz Air UK’s head of operations and accountable manager Capt Phil Cullen. "Wizz Air is proud to offer clear career progression and industry-leading support to all of our pilots, from training through to captain.” 

The airline said it is particularly keen to hear from individuals looking to change careers.

Wizz Air operates a fleet of 243 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. The airline flew 62.8m passengers in 2024. It operates over 750 routes from 190 airports in 54 countries.