About This Role
Wizz Air UK is running a USA/Canada Expression of Interest for experienced First Officers (with a fast track to command) and Direct Entry Captains who hold UK or Irish heritage and want to relocate to the UK with a sponsored licence conversion. The advertised Senior First Officer role flies the A320 family — a growing fleet of A321neo and the first A321XLR aircraft — from bases at London Luton and London Gatwick, on almost exclusively two-sector out-and-back days that return home every night. First Officers can apply for command in as little as 12 months depending on hours held on joining, and the airline provides an A320 type rating for pilots who are not yet type rated.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Operate as a Senior First Officer on the A320 family (A321neo and A321XLR) on short-haul services from London Luton or London Gatwick, flying almost exclusively two-sector days out and back and returning home every night.
- First Officers are placed on a fast-track command pathway and become eligible to apply for command in as little as 12 months, depending on hours held when joining.
What We Offer
Sponsored UK licence conversion from an FAA (or other ICAO) licence to a UK licence: assessments are run in the USA, candidates are given 12 months to complete the UK CAA written exams and obtain an initial UK medical before their start date, certain conversion costs are reimbursed once you join, and an online study course is provided. A320 type rating provided by Wizz Air UK for pilots who are not yet type rated. Fast-track command — eligibility to apply for command in as little as 12 months. Bases at London Luton and London Gatwick, with the option to live up to 90 minutes away (for example London, Oxford, Cambridge or the Cotswolds)almost exclusively two-sector out-and-back days with pilots home every night. For reference, the advertised Captain starting salary after command is around £150,000 including flight pay, rising to over £200,000 with seniority.
Requirements
- First Officers must hold a full ATP (FAA, Transport Canada, CASA or any other ICAO state accepted) and a minimum of 1,500 hours total flight time.
- Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK: UK or Irish citizens, or those with British or Irish grandparents who can obtain a UK/Ireland Ancestry Visa or passport (EU residency alone does not grant the right to work in the UK).
- Two First Officer pathways are advertised for ancestry-eligible pilots — an A320-rated Senior First Officer and a non-type-rated Senior First Officer — both requiring a minimum of 1,500 hours multi-crew time and a full ATP.
- The airline is also exploring Senior First Officer entry (A320-rated or non-rated) for Canadian, Australian or New Zealand citizens aged 18–35 with a minimum of 2,000 jet hours and a full ATP.
- Candidates may be A320 rated or non-type-rated (a type rating is provided if not).
- Successful applicants must complete the UK CAA written exams and obtain an initial UK medical within 12 months, before their start date.
- The combined posting also lists a Direct Entry Captain tier requiring a minimum of 2,000 hours A320 PIC time while actively flying the A320 in an airline environment.