Ryanair still needs UK-licensed pilots: O’Leary

Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary insists the airline is still interested in recruiting UK-licensed cockpit crews, although he suggests the value of a UK licence has deteriorated in the wake of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. UK cockpit union BALPA recently urged the government to restore mutual recognition of pilot licences between the UK and EU, a status ended by the post-Brexit withdrawal agreement. Ryanair operating subsidiary Lauda Europe recently sought crews for a UK base but required European Union Aviation Safety Agency licences. O’Leary points out that the carrier still needs to hire UK-licensed pilots to operate non-EU routes from its UK bases, and adds that the company is also “growing” the Ryanair UK division it set up to cope with Brexit disruption. “UK licences are not that valuable,” he said during a briefing on 31 August at which Ryanair unveiled a winter route expansion from London’s Luton and Stansted airports. “But, frankly, we don’t care whether [pilots have a] UK licence or EU licence, we can operate with both. What we want is well-trained, hard-working pilots and cabin crew.”<br/>