Emirates to hire hundreds of pilots in 2026

Dubai-based Emirates airline will recruit pilots in “three digits” in the financial year starting April 2026 and undertake an expansion of its flight training infrastructure by adding more simulators, according to a senior airline official.

“Yes, there is an industry shortage. A high demand for pilots exists and will continue to exist,” Captain Bader Al Marzooqi, Senior Vice President of Flight Training at Emirates said in response to a question on the chronic shortage of pilots globally.  

But explained that Emirates recruitment teams anticipate future demands six months ahead.

The airline aims to hire 1,500 pilots in 2025 and 2026, of which 550 hirings are planned for 2025. In the years between 2022 and 2025 the airline hired 2,000 pilots

“Our recruitment team has been successful in attracting pilots, and six months before the financial year ends, we have already met our hiring target through March. In addition, we have a pool of shortlisted pilots ready for the next financial year, during which we plan to offer jobs in three digits,” Marzooqi said.

The airline currently has 4,800 pilots on its rolls. It has lost pilots in single digits to rivals in Saudi Arabia, where the brand new full service carrier Riyadh Air started flight operations last month.

He was speaking to journalists on a visit to the airline’s new flight crew training centre in Dubai built with an investment of $135 million and spread across 63,318 square feet. 

The hiring plans are in step with the airline’s growing aircraft order. At the Dubai Airshow that opened on September 17, the airline has ordered 65 additional Boeing 777X aircraft and 8 Airbus A350-900 to expand its fleet of 269 aircraft.

The airline will continue expanding its training infrastructure. Its existing 13 simulators include six Boeing 777-300ER, two Airbus A350, and five A380 units. To this fleet, Emirates will add another Boeing 777 simulator, one additional A350 simulator, and its first Boeing 777-9 simulator, which is expected to become operational by mid-2026, ahead of the induction of the first aircraft of this type.