British Airways Hiring Temporary Madrid-Based Crews This Summer

If it works for FAs, why not pilots? Couple weeks’ training and you’re good to go.

The general aviation staffing pool around the globe is struggling, I think BA are using Madrid as the base for these particular staff is because the UK Government has a backlog of airside security clearances, easyJet are waiting on 140 as reported last week. Assuming Spain is on top of the checks.

You may be surprised how many EASA carriers do exactly this. With common licensing standards across Europe and easy access to A320/B737 type ratings, there are agencies who specialize in providing ad-hoc crewing solutions to smaller carriers for seasonal requirements, or sometimes even a single day. A lot of the pilots involved are also highly skilled and experienced, but choose this lifestyle for various personal reasons, so it isn't that quality is being particularly compromised either.

Hardly surprising since BA made thousands of crew redundant during covid rather then trying to keep them on. British Airways has always been about profits then safety of satisfaction of the customer.

Absolutely crap

Ok c'mon, its not even remotely the same. The pilots still have to be fully qualified to fly a certain type. ALL pilots have to be highly skilled.

AF has been recruiting students for the summer peak since years. Though they are mainly rostered for long-haul flights and the crew is never only comprising these new recruits.

The same was true for Lufthansa - they‘d hire students for a 6-month term during the summer, and these temp FAs would be assigned exclusively to Economy Class service on long-haul flights.

Air NZ has short training courses and it’s not an issue for their “premium brand”. No flying experience, quick 3 weeks training and you could have one cabin crew sole charge of a Q300, 2 cabin crew in charge of an ATR or jets full of brand new crew except for a manager. I don’t see the issue there.

Wow, this sounds like the perfect opportunity for a lot of people like me who have time for it and crave a little adventure for a few months time doing something different and somewhat exciting and exotic.

No matter how much BA management claim they’re listening or going to change, it’s always the same middle finger to both customers and their own staff

I want

You missed one crucial detail about the applicants - they must ALREADY have a valid EASA attestation. This isn't for people with zero experience. Realistically, the only people with a valid attestation are recently redundant/retired/resigned crew from another airline in Europe. Pretty much no one would happen to have a valid attestation, but not already have worked as cabin crew.

These temporary crew would operate alongside existing LHR crew, and would never be in charge of an aircraft. The crew complement would NEVER be "made up exclusively of people who have just started flying and have little real life experience".

This is called crapification. It is a symptom of late stage neoliberal capitalism. If you look to most anywhere in Asia, service quality never lost importance after 9/11 or the financial crisis.

I don't think security clearances are the issue. Probably more to do with the pay rates and terms and conditions. Cheap labour is a priority for B.A.

My flight was canceled and ba is not reimbursing my local flight cancelation

AF students are hired just for service purpose and don't have any security responsibilities, no door to open is case of emergency. They are usually part of a crew where most flight attendants are safety trained.

It's very unlikely someone in the UK will accept it as there plenty of airlines offering permanent cabin crew positions and paying better than like Wizz air.

This base (if it is classed as feasible) are crew who used be employed by fellow IAG airlines based in Madrid - presumably Iberia, Iberia Express and possibly Vueling. They are not first time flyers with little or no life experience as you incorrectly state. The reason this is being looked at is to cover the current shortfall at Heathrow and in no way debases the role of permanent crew.