Selection process · tests · interview · simulator check
Volotea pilot assessment
Updated October 2026 · SET STANDARD
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Notify meVolotea entered a pre-insolvency debt restructuring in September 2026, is shrinking from 44 to 30-35 aircraft and has ended its cadet route, so pilot hiring is effectively frozen for winter 2026-27.
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Volotea is a Spanish low-cost airline that connects small and mid-sized European cities point to point, with about 21 bases in France, Italy and Spain and a fleet of around 42 Airbus A319s and A320s. France is its largest market, about 60% of activity, and Bilbao and Asturias are its Spanish bases. It carried 11.2 million passengers in 2025 and Skytrax named it Europe's best low-cost airline in 2023 and 2024.
Key facts
| Fleet | ~42 Airbus: 16 A319 + 26 A320 (Sep 2026) |
|---|---|
| Orders | None direct; leased A320s; A220/E2 studied as A319 replacement |
| Bases | ~21 (12 France, 7 Italy, 2 Spain); Ancona from Dec 2026; 4 hibernated for winter |
| Pilots | Not published; local contracts at each base |
| Hiring 2026 | Seasonal SO/FO/CPT hiring early 2026; frozen since Sep 2026 |
| Entry routes | Graduate SO (school selections), rated/non-rated captain, fast-track command |
Entry routes and requirements
Volotea MPL Career Programme (CAE)
Candidates with little or no flying experience
- Requirements not detailed on the CAE landing page
Volotea MPL Cadet Program (BAA Training) - CLOSED
Ab-initio candidates
- Age 18+
- Secondary education or higher
- Right to live and work in the EU
- Able to obtain EASA Class 1 medical
Volotea MAPS - Mentored Airline Pilot Scheme (FTEJerez) - SUSPENDED
EU nationals with little or no flying experience
- EU nationality
- Joint FTEJerez/Volotea assessment in Jerez and Barcelona
Second Officer / graduate entry (frozen ATPL)
Recent frozen-ATPL graduates from partner schools (FTEJerez, European Flyers, Adventia/USAL)
- EASA CPL/IR + ATPL theory (frozen ATPL), MCC
- Class 1 medical
- ICAO English Level 4+
- EU right to work
Rated / non-rated A320 Captain (seasonal)
Experienced commanders
- EASA ATPL, Class 1 medical
- 5,000 h total with 1,000-1,500 h PIC on medium jet (adverts vary)
- Last Airbus flight within 12 months (rated)
- EU passport
The selection process, step by step
- Application / school pre-selectiononline (jobs.volotea.com talent community) or via partner school career service
CV, licence and hours check; for graduates the school shortlists candidates for an on-campus event.
- Technical knowledge testin person, written ATPL-level test
Theory exam at ATPL level reported in every 2023-25 school selection (European Flyers, Adventia, FTEJerez).
- Psychometric / personality testsin person or computer-based
Personality questionnaire and aptitude items; provider not named publicly.
- Interviews (technical + HR) and psychologistin person: technical department/training captains and HR; separate psychologist interview reported
Adventia 2023 reported two interview rounds (technical and HR); European Flyers reported an extra psychologist interview after the first stage.
- A320 simulator checkin person, A320 FFS or A320-MCC device at the host school
Assessment flown with Volotea senior training captains; for graduates it screens handling and multi-crew behaviour rather than type knowledge.
Aptitude and psychometric tests
- ATPL-level technical knowledge test
- personality / psychometric tests
- psychologist interview (reported)
The interview
Technical interview with training captains plus HR interview; psychologist interview reported at some selections
- motivation
- communication
- teamwork
- adaptability
Typical questions to prepare
- Why Volotea?
- What do you know about Volotea's current situation?
- Describe Volotea's fleet.
- Which bases do you know, and would you accept any of them?
- Volotea uses seasonal contracts. How do you feel about that?
- Tell me about a time you disagreed with a captain or instructor.
The simulator assessment
| Device | A320 FFS or A320-MCC simulator (host school device) |
|---|---|
| Where | Partner school campus (Jerez, Madrid Cuatro Vientos, Salamanca) or Barcelona |
| Typical profile | Not officially published; reported as basic handling, departure, manual approach and go-around with Volotea training captains. |
Language and after selection
English ICAO Level 4 minimum in recent adverts and cadet programmes; Level 5 in older rated adverts. French, Italian or Spanish reported as an advantage.
Selected graduates start an A320 type rating (VPT then FFS with Volotea instructors), base and line training as Second Officer on a seasonal local contract; FOs and captains join a local base contract (France, Italy, Spain).
Common reasons candidates fail
- Weak ATPL theory on the written test, especially performance and systems
- Poor basic manual handling in the A320 sim, or chasing the flight director
- Weak PM role: silent monitoring and no deviation calls
- No knowledge of Volotea's model, bases or 2026 situation
- Rigid base preferences or visible reluctance about seasonal contracts
Get the complete Volotea Assessment Guide
173 pages: company history and culture, every stage of the selection, model interview answers, technical refresher, Airbus A319/A320 systems and simulator assessment preparation. Updated for 2026.
Look inside the guideStatus: 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
- 173
- 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 Volotea begin flying, and from where?
5 April 2012, from Venice
Who founded Volotea?
Carlos Muñoz and Lázaro Ros, the founders of Vueling
Who is Volotea's CEO?
Carlos Muñoz
Which aircraft did Volotea launch with?
Boeing 717
When did the last Volotea 717 flight take place?
January 2021
What does Volotea's fleet consist of in 2026?
Airbus A319 and A320, about 42 aircraft (16 A319, 26 A320)
Preparation guides
Other airline assessments
Main sources
https://jobs.volotea.com/pilots/
https://www.cae.com/volotea-mpl/
https://baatraining.com/ab-initio/cadet-programs/volotea-cadet-program
https://www.ftejerez.com/news/volotea-and-ftejerez-launch-a-new-edition-of-their-cadet-programme/
https://afm.aero/spanish-flight-training-group-ftejerez-hosts-volotea-for-on-campus-pilot-recruitment-in-2025
SET STANDARD is an independent training publisher, not affiliated with Volotea. Information compiled from public sources and candidate reports; always confirm with the airline’s official careers page.