Selection process · tests · interview · simulator check

Aer Lingus pilot assessment

Updated October 2026 · SET STANDARD

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After a record 2025, Aer Lingus has swung into restructuring in 2026, proposing 70 pilot job cuts and leaving both the Future Pilot Programme and direct-entry hiring paused, so the next campaign is the window to prepare for, not a current one.

No open cadet or DE FO call; 70 pilot roles proposed for cuts, talks with IALPA ongoing (Oct 2026)

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Aer Lingus is Ireland's national airline and, since 2015, part of International Airlines Group (IAG) alongside British Airways and Iberia. From its Dublin hub it operates a value-carrier model: an all-Airbus fleet serving the UK and Europe, and a transatlantic network to North America, now extended by the long-range A321XLR. Aer Lingus has repeatedly reinvented itself: from a single de Havilland Dragon in 1936 to transatlantic pioneer, from state airline to listed company to IAG subsidiary.

Key facts

Fleet	About 62 Airbus (Sept 2025): 27 A320ceo, 8 A320neo, 8 A321LR, 6 A321XLR, 13 A330-200/300 (14 A330s reported Oct 2026)
Orders	1 A320neo outstanding; extra IAG aircraft tied to reaching a 12-15% margin. From summer 2027: 2 fewer A330s and 4 fewer A320s
Bases	Dublin hub, Cork, Shannon; Manchester (Aer Lingus UK) closed 31 Mar 2026
Pilots	Headcount not published; about 11% female (2023); up to 70 pilot roles at risk
Hiring 2026	None public; 6% capacity cut and up to 500 job cuts proposed in July 2026
Entry routes	Future Pilot Programme (sponsored MPL, paused); DE FO (last campaign 2024); command internal only

Entry routes and requirements

Future Pilot Programme (cadet, MPL)

Ab initio candidates, no flying experience needed

Age 18+ by the closing date
Leaving Certificate with O5/H6 in English and Maths plus two higher-level subjects at H5 (or equivalent: GCSE C+ English/Maths with A-levels CCD, Level 7 degree, or relevant aviation apprenticeship)
Fluent written and spoken English
Right to live and work permanently in the EU/Ireland; unrestricted worldwide passport

Direct Entry First Officer (Aer Lingus, Dublin/Cork/Shannon, A320 family)

Licensed pilots, Airbus-rated preferred

EASA ATPL or frozen ATPL, current ME/IR
MCC (or exemption); AUPRT for recent graduates
EASA Class 1 medical
ELP Level 4+ (some aggregators cite Level 5; check the live advert)

Direct Entry First Officer - Aer Lingus UK (Manchester) - CLOSED

A320- or A330-rated pilots

UK ATPL or ATPL(f)
A330 type rating, or A320 rating with 2,500 h on A320 (CCQ to A330)
Valid LPC; ELP Level 5
UK right to work; able to obtain US visas; live within 120 min of base

Captain / DEC

n/a

No public direct-entry captain campaign found (some aggregators list DEC; unverified)

The selection process, step by step

Online application and screeningonline
Application via the Aer Lingus careers portal; acknowledgement email on receipt. Cadets upload education proof; DE pilots give exact licence, ratings, hours and notice period.
Online assessments (cadet and DE)online
Shortlisted applicants complete online aptitude/psychometric tests at home; Aer Lingus warns they may be re-tested at the assessment centre.
Telephone / Teams interview (former Aer Lingus UK process)phone then Microsoft Teams
Used in the 2025 Aer Lingus UK call (now closed). Mainline Dublin campaigns used an in-person assessment centre instead.
Assessment centre, Dublin (cadet and DE)in person, Dublin
Group exercises, panel discussions and competency interviews. Cadet 2025 sessions ran 24 Mar-11 Apr; DE candidates bring their flight school report (500 h).
Simulator assessment (DE, some candidates)in person, Dublin, A320 FFS (reported)
Official DE process: simulator offered to some candidates in the assessment-centre week. Since Aug 2026 Aer Lingus owns a CAE A320ceo/neo FFS at Simtech Aviation, Dublin, also intended for pilot assessments.
Medical and final checksin person
Class 1 and company medical; 5-year background check, criminal record certificates for countries lived in 6+ months after 18, Garda vetting, references. No individual feedback is given at any stage.

Aptitude and psychometric tests

online aptitude/psychometric (3 links, 2-3 h, DE)
online aptitude within 72 h (cadet)
personality/behavioural questionnaire (reported)
possible verification retest at assessment centre

Group exercise

Group exercises and panel discussions at the Dublin assessment centre (cadet and DE).

The interview

Competency-based panel (Flight Operations pilot plus HR) at the Dublin assessment centre; Aer Lingus UK used phone + Teams

motivation and responsibility
leadership potential and teamwork
guest awareness
adaptability
commercial awareness
safety and Just Culture

Typical questions to prepare

Why Aer Lingus?
What do you know about our current situation?
Why do you want to fly for a value carrier rather than a low-cost carrier?
Tell us about a time you worked in a team that was struggling.
Describe a mistake you made and how you handled it.
Tell us about a time you disagreed with a senior colleague.

The simulator assessment

Device	Airbus A320 FFS (reported)
Where	Dublin: Aer Lingus Training Academy / Simtech Aviation (CAE A320ceo/neo FFS since Aug 2026)
Typical profile	not published; reported as a standard Airbus handling and SOP check flown as a crew

Language and after selection

Fluent English (cadet); ELP Level 4+ (Aer Lingus DE, official careers page).

Cadets: ~14 months at FTEJerez, then ~4-month A320-family transition at the Aer Lingus Training Academy Dublin, line training as FO with Liaison Pilot support. DE: type rating and Safety & Emergency Procedures in Dublin, line training with a Training Captain, then 6-monthly sim checks; command via Command Development Process.

Common reasons candidates fail

Generic motivation with no knowledge of the 2026 restructuring, IAG or the transatlantic model
Weak behaviour in the group exercise: dominating, or being silent
Online test scores not matched at the verification retest
STAR answers without a personal role or result
Sim: rushing ECAM, poor raw-data handling or no crew communication

Get the complete Aer Lingus Assessment Guide

193 pages: company history and culture, every stage of the selection, model interview answers, technical refresher, Airbus A320 family / A330 systems and simulator assessment preparation. Updated for 2026.

Look inside the guide

Status: Preview · current to October 2026 · not on sale yet · join the waiting list

About this guide

Format: PDF (bookmarked, iPad-optimised)
Language: English
Edition: Ed 2026 · Revision 1.0
Current to: October 2026
Pages: 193
Status: Preview · not on sale yet
Licence: Personal, single user · see licence terms
Updates: Update policy to be announced before sales open
Simulator stage: Covered as reported by candidates and public sources

Independent publication. Facts in this overview are labelled “reported” when they come from candidate reports rather than official sources — see the editorial standards. Notify me about this guide · See it in the catalogue

Practice questions: company knowledge

Interview practice drawn from public sources; the answers are not an FAQ about the guide.

When did Aer Lingus first fly?

27 May 1936, Baldonnel-Bristol, with a DH84 Dragon named Iolar.

Who owns Aer Lingus?

International Airlines Group (IAG), since 2015.

Who is the CEO?

Lynne Embleton, since April 2021.

How many passengers did Aer Lingus carry in 2025?

About 11.3 million (a record).

What was the 2025 operating profit?

€282m on revenue of about €2.53bn.

What was the H1 2026 result?

An operating loss of €34m (Q1 -€103m, Q2 +€69m).

Preparation guides

Pilot Aptitude Tests: What They Measure and How to Practise Pilot Assessment Guide: How Airline Selection Works and How to Prepare Pilot Group Exercise: How to Show Real Crew Behaviour Pilot Interview Questions: How to Prepare Competency and Technical Answers Pilot Personality Questionnaire: Honesty, Consistency and Crew Fit Pilot Simulator Assessment: What to Expect and How to Prepare Pilot Technical Interview: Key Topics and How to Explain Them

Other airline assessments

Main sources

https://mediacentre.aerlingus.com/pressrelease/details/108/21861
https://www.flightdeckfriend.com/job/aer-lingus-future-pilot-programme/
https://www.flightdeckfriend.com/job/aer-lingus-first-officers-2/
https://www.flightdeckfriend.com/job/aer-lingus-airbus-rated-first-officers/
https://www.flightdeckfriend.com/pilot_programs/aer-lingus-future-pilot-training-programme/

SET STANDARD is an independent training publisher, not affiliated with Aer Lingus. Information compiled from public sources and candidate reports; always confirm with the airline’s official careers page.