Emirates celebrates World Pilots’ Day and announces plans to recruit more pilots
Emirates provides its pilot community with a multicultural environment in Dubai with colleagues from over 170 nationalities
This World Pilots’ Day, Emirates is celebrating its pilots for their contributions to global travel and the airline’s success, while continuing to recruit First Officers and seasoned Captains.
Since launching in 1985 with two wet-leased aircraft from Pakistan International Airlines, Emirates has grown to boast almost 4,000 pilots from 111 nationalities, including 400 Emirati nationals. The first Emirati cadet pilot joined in 1986, and with over 20 years of service, retired as a Captain.
More than 40 percent of Emirates’ pilots have been working at the airline for longer than a decade, a recent release stated. The airline’s two longest-serving pilots, who joined on the same day in 1989, have accumulated more than 34 years of service.
With air travel demand only growing and Emirates preparing to take delivery of its A350s in 2024, the airline continues to grow its pilot community with upcoming recruitment drives. In the first few months of 2022 alone, Emirates welcomed over 900 new pilots on its three recruitment programs: Direct Entry Captains, Accelerated Command and First Officers.
Emirates’ pilots fly one of the world’s youngest and most modern fleets of 266 wide-body aircraft, including A380s and 777s, to six continents and 140 diverse destinations, from San Francisco to Auckland, and across all terrains. They also have access to advanced pilot training facilities, with 10 full-flight simulators for A380s and 777s, and a new facility set to open in March 2024, costing US$135 million and housing 6 more full-flight simulators for future fleets.
