Ryanair has announced it is partnering with Astonfly, part of the Clair Group, to recruit and train up to 500 new pilots over the next four years. Based at Aéroport de Toussus Le Noble on the outskirts of Paris, France, Astonfly is the leading pilot training school in France and currently sees over 150 pilots trained each year and works with more than 50 airlines worldwide, including Ryanair.
The programme will give trainee pilots a structured path to achieve a standard where they are ready to join the Ryanair Boeing 737 Type Rating programme. Pilots on the programme will be trained by Astonfly’s instructors, using Ryanair procedures and operational philosophy.
Ryanair’s Head of Crew Training Captain, Senan O’Shea said: “This new Ryanair – Astonfly programme will provide the airline with a steady pipeline of talented and professional pilots from around Europe to meet the needs of our growing network. Ryanair will hire up to 1,000 pilots per annum over the next four years and our pilots can look forward to unmatched opportunities flying with the world’s number-one international airline.”
“This ambitious pilot recruitment programme announced in partnership with Ryanair is a strong sign of post pandemic recovery in international air transport. Astonfly is particularly proud to have been chosen as exclusive training partner in France by Europe’s number-one pilot employer,” Clair Group’s President, Charles Clair commented.