British Airways and easyJet are in a competitive race for newly qualified pilots at Gatwick Airport, spurred by a significant rebound in air travel which has led to widespread staffing shortages in the aviation sector.

As the two major airlines at Gatwick ramp up their recruitment efforts to meet the soaring demand for flights approaching pre-pandemic levels, easyJet reportedly offers captains as much as £191,000 in fixed and variable compensation for joining the low-cost airline. In comparison, salaries for newly recruited captains at British Airways’ Euroflyer division are capped at £138,000.

Since British Airways resumed its operations at Gatwick following the pandemic, easyJet has consistently offered higher salaries than its competitor, especially with the launch of its new EuroFlyer division.

Both airlines utilize similar aircraft models at Gatwick, specifically variants of the Airbus A320 family, intensifying their competition for the same pool of pilots. Notably, easyJet, which typically prefers internal promotions, is making an exception by recruiting external candidates for captain positions. A recent surge in passenger traffic at Gatwick has nearly restored numbers to pre-pandemic levels, but the halt in pilot training during the pandemic has aggravated existing shortages.

A report from consultancy Oliver Wyman in 2022 indicated that the global pilot shortage is expected to worsen over the next decade, predicting Europe could be short by 19,000 pilots by 2032.

EasyJet highlights its commitment to quality of life for pilots by offering attractive leave options, including ‘bookable days off’ to ensure adequate rest and relaxation. Additionally, pilots benefit from free meals and drinks while flying, along with complimentary parking at the airport. British Airways provides significant perks for its pilots, such as unlimited discounted airfares for friends and family, alongside a pension plan with contributions up to 15 percent from the employer.

The competition for pilots is influenced by British Airways’ earlier strategic decision to withdraw from Gatwick amid the pandemic in 2020, focusing its limited operations at Heathrow instead.

After expressing uncertainty about its return, British Airways did resume flights from Gatwick, establishing its Euroflyer short-haul subsidiary with a strategy aimed at cost reduction to boost profitability in the area.

Historically known as a budget airline, easyJet is increasingly focusing on competing directly with British Airways on various routes rather than primarily against Ryanair or Wizz.

Both airlines have had to adopt novel strategies to attract pilots following a pandemic-induced hiring freeze.

Earlier in the year, British Airways unveiled its ‘Speedbird’ pilot academy cadet program, offering 100 candidates the opportunity for training valued at £100,000.

Traditionally, BA has relied on pilots advancing from short-haul to long-haul operations, leading some to accept lower initial wages for the prospect of future advancement.

In response, easyJet has initiated a partnership with Virgin Atlantic, introducing an exchange program where easyJet pilots will train on larger Airbus aircraft through a secondment to Virgin Atlantic lasting three years.

In recent announcements, the Luton-based airline stated its aim to recruit 1,000 new pilots by 2028 while also focusing on increasing female representation in aviation, noting that only 6 percent of pilots worldwide are women.

Captain Kate West, easyJet’s pilot training manager, emphasized the importance of dismantling stereotypes associated with the profession to promote diversity, noting a significant increase in female pilots at the airline.

According to a spokesperson from easyJet, the recruitment efforts are not specifically aimed at targeting any one airline, though some new hires may find themselves based at BA along with positions at Wizz and Tui, among others.

A representative from British Airways confirmed the airline is also in the process of hiring direct-entry pilots for their EuroFlyer and CityFlyer branches operating from London City airport.