EasyJet Pilots Will Fly Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350s

While this won’t impact passengers in any way, EasyJet and Virgin Atlantic are launching an interesting pilot exchange program…

Some EasyJet pilots are headed to Virgin Atlantic

EasyJet and Virgin Atlantic have partnered in a pilot exchange program, which will see some EasyJet pilots join Virgin Atlantic to experience a long haul, wide body flying secondment. As of November 2024, 20 pilots from European ultra low cost carrier EasyJet will work at Virgin Atlantic for a period of three years, where they’re expected to rack up around 1,500 flying hours.

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The Airbus A320 first officers at EasyJet will be flying as first officers on Virgin Atlantic’s Airbus A350 fleet. At the end of the three year period, they’ll return to EasyJet, where they’ll continue their careers.

As it’s described, this will provide EasyJet pilots with the opportunity to experience the operations of a wide body jet and further their flight deck experience, while Virgin Atlantic will benefit from experienced short haul EasyJet pilots joining the team.

Here’s how Bart Prudon, Director of Flight Operations at EasyJet, describes this arrangement:

“At easyJet we pride ourselves on the calibre of our pilots, our industry-leading training and commitment to career development and so we are delighted to have partnered with Virgin Atlantic to further enhance the opportunities flying with easyJet can offer. Operating a different aircraft type is a fantastic experience for any pilot and this partnership will not only offer global long-haul flying with the added security of returning to easyJet to continue a fantastic career flying modern aircraft across Europe, we know that our highly-skilled pilots will add great value to the Virgin Atlantic team.”

Meanwhile here’s what Robbert Strating, VP of Flight Operations at Virgin Atlantic, had to say:

“Our pilots play a vital role flying our customers, safely and on time. The introduction of our pilot placement programme with easyJet will welcome experienced easyJet pilots directly into the Virgin Atlantic family, giving them the opportunity to fly our state-of-the-art, next generation wide body Airbus aircraft, travelling to some amazing long-haul destinations including Los Angeles, India, and South Africa.

“Meanwhile, easyJet’s extensive basing network will allow us to attract pilots from across Europe, reaching new audiences. With our purpose to inspire everyone to take on the world, we’re pleased to play a pivotal role developing their flying careers and enhancing the skills of the next generation of pilots and supporting UK aviation.”

I’m curious what the motive is for this arrangement

EasyJet and Virgin Atlantic don’t otherwise have much cooperation, so it’s interesting to see an agreement like this. What a cool opportunity for EasyJet pilots to fly a wide body jet on long haul routes, alongside the standard Virgin Atlantic crew.

I can’t help but be curious about the motivation for this agreement, though, since it’s not clearly stated. In the past we’ve sometimes seen situations where airlines that partner with one another swap pilots, in cases where one airline has a surplus of pilots, and the other has a shortage.

However, it doesn’t seem like that’s what’s going on here?

• EasyJet highlights how it’s recruiting pilots, and the airline is growing, with hundreds of aircraft on order; the airline also spends a lot of money and puts a lot of effort into pilot training, so presumably wants those pilots flying for EasyJet, and not for other carriers
• Does Virgin Atlantic have a pilot shortage, and the airline is trying to solve that with this arrangement? Nothing against EasyJet, but you’d think that there would be a lot of EasyJet pilots who would gladly take a permanent job at Virgin Atlantic
• What’s the actual financial arrangement here? Are EasyJet pilots getting their standard EasyJet pay, and EasyJet is getting a finder’s fee for offering pilots on a cheaper contract, or something else?

Bottom line

Some EasyJet pilots will be heading to Virgin Atlantic for a period of three years, where they’ll go from flying short haul A320 flights around Europe, to operating long haul A350 flights around the globe. Arrangements like this are rare, especially between airlines that don’t otherwise partner, so I’m curious what’s really going on here.

What do you make of EasyJet sending some of its pilots to Virgin Atlantic?