Airline industry gears up for massive hiring spree
- Paul Aage Hegvik
- Jan 12
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 28
As global air travel continues its recovery, numerous major airlines are preparing for a significant hiring spree in 2025.
To meet the rising demand for air travel and expand their operations, companies like Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, and United Airlines are planning to add thousands of new employees across various roles, including pilots, cabin crew, ground staff, and technical experts. This recruitment surge reflects the industry's robust recovery and the increasing need for skilled workers to support expanded fleets and new destinations.
Lufthansa will recruit 10,000 new employees
Germany's Lufthansa Group has according to the news channel DW announced plans to recruit approximately 10,000 new employees in 2025, aiming to bolster its workforce across various sectors.
Recruitment breakdown:
Flight attendants: Over 2,000
Ground operations staff: More than 1,400
Technical experts: Around 1,300
Administrative workers: Approximately 1,200
Pilots: About 800
More than half of these positions will be based in Germany. Subsidiaries such as Eurowings and Austrian Airlines are also set to hire several hundred new employees each.
Despite this recruitment drive, Lufthansa Airlines will continue its «Efficiency Program Turnaround» and is expected to hire fewer employees in 2025 compared to 2024. Over the past three years, the company has added 30,000 new employees.
As of January 2025, Lufthansa Group employs approximately 100,000 people across 90 countries.
The airline operates flights to over 200 destinations worldwide, offering services to numerous international locations.
Announced plans in 2025
Several other airlines have announced plans to hire new employees in 2025 to accommodate the resurgence in air travel demand.
Here are some of them:
Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus is actively recruiting cabin crew for their 2025 operations. The selection process commenced in early December 2024, with successful candidates expected to undergo a comprehensive six-week paid training program in Dublin between March and May 2025.
The airline offers a competitive starting salary of €29,883.26, along with additional variable pay and travel concessions.
British Airways and easyJet
Both British Airways (BA) and easyJet are engaged in a competitive recruitment drive for pilots, particularly at Gatwick Airport, to meet the increasing demand for air travel.
EasyJet is offering captain salaries up to £191,000, surpassing BA's offers for their short-haul Euroflyer division. This aggressive hiring strategy is a response to the anticipated pilot shortage in Europe, projected to reach 19,000 by 2032.
EasyJet aims to recruit 1,000 pilots by 2028 and is also focusing on increasing female representation in the field.
Additionally, BA has introduced the «Speedbird» cadet scheme, providing training worth £100,000 to 100 new pilots.
Riyadh Air
Riyadh Air, a new Saudi Arabian airline, is preparing to commence operations in mid-2025. As part of its launch strategy, the airline is expected to recruit a significant number of staff to support its ambitious plans to serve over 100 destinations by 2030. While specific recruitment numbers have not been disclosed, the scale of their planned operations suggests substantial hiring efforts.
Delta Airlines Delta Air Lines has according to Airline Geeks announced plans to hire a significant number of flight attendants for its 2025 classes, aiming to meet the anticipated demand for its most extensive travel schedule to date. The airline is seeking both English-speaking and bilingual candidates proficient in languages such as Czech, Danish, Dutch, French, Greek, German, Italian, Korean, and Swedish.
Applicants must possess a high school diploma or equivalent, be at least 21 years old, and have the legal right to work in the U.S.
Regarding pilot recruitment, Delta anticipates a return to «normalized» hiring levels in 2025, with expectations of nearly 5,000 new pilot positions industry-wide. This projection aligns with pre-pandemic hiring trends observed in 2019.
While Delta has not specified the exact number of pilots it plans to hire in 2025, the airline's recruitment efforts reflect a broader industry trend toward workforce expansion to accommodate the growing demand for air travel.
United Airlines
United Airlines has been actively hiring pilots and plans to continue this trend into 2025. The airline hired 1,400 pilots in 2024 and intends to hire more in 2025 to support its growth and replace retiring pilots.
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines anticipates a return to normalized pilot hiring levels in 2025. The airline expects that U.S. airlines will hire approximately 5,000 new pilots in 2025, reflecting a recovery in the aviation industry.
American Airlines
American Airlines is expected to resume pilot hiring in 2025, with plans to start new pilot classes early in the year. This move indicates a positive outlook for the airline's operations and growth.
Emirates
Emirates has been actively recruiting to meet the increasing demand for air travel. In 2024, the airline embarked on a recruitment drive to hire 5,000 cabin crew members, focusing on fresh graduates and individuals with hospitality or customer service experience.
This initiative aimed to bolster the airline's workforce as it expanded its fleet with new aircraft, including the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777-X, starting in 2025.
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific has been actively recruiting to support its recovery and expansion plans. In 2023, the airline aimed to hire up to 4,000 staff members, including pilots, cabin crew, and ground staff, as part of its recovery plan.
This recruitment effort was part of a broader strategy to enhance the airline's operations and services.
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways has been actively recruiting to support its growth and expansion plans. The airline has been hiring cabin crew and other staff members to meet the increasing demand for air travel. While specific numbers for 2025 have not been publicly disclosed, Qatar Airways continues to focus on expanding its workforce to support its operations.
These recruitment initiatives reflect the airlines' efforts to rebuild and expand their workforces in response to the recovery and growth in global air travel demand.
