wizzkid

Or the demographics of the workforce have changed in such way that workers are from, or at least live permanently in the city they are based in. The trend was that the company turned more and more native with non-locals taking the road leaving the company increasingly locally crewed.

Many view the company, as Narrow Runway pointed out, a place to play the game. It is an excellent stepping stone for the low hour FO and for the FO looking for a quick command. With the local conditions in mind, Wizzair offers a local pilot a chance to be home and if not excellent salary at least a good salary by local standards. For many a night home is worth a lower salary. One can make thousands upon thousands living in China but what good is that if you never see your family or spend majority of your time away from them. Personally I would happily take half the pay to spend double the amount of time home.

For those having a life elsewhere it is far from being a financial bliss and many that left are now making more than double to Wizz salaries with half the workload, again this is mostly people that do not originate from the areas where Wizz have their bases. However there has been some local pilots making a move to other operators outside the region.

As for cabin crew. Many, I would have to say a very large number have found new opportunities in the gulf with the large companies hiring there. Needless to say but the cabin crew salaries while higher than those the Irish wonder provides are still far cry from what a trained CC can earn elsewhere.

B767PL

"It is an excellent stepping stone for the low hour FO "

Under what is currently happening in Europe, that is no longer the case, either. Unless your definition of a low hour FO is a not so low hour FO.

There are no jobs out there for non-TR people, and even for TR folks they are far and few between. Hell, even the ME has for the time being slowed or stopped their hiring.

Mike Lima

it seems so that it looks very bad in wizzair.
according to pilotjobsnetwork.com:
they will fire pilots if nobody takes unpaid leave

Narrow Runway

@ MikeLima

No they won't.

Mike Lima

what makes you so confident?

Narrow Runway

@MikeLima

What makes you believe the company will fire pilots, except an anonymous post on a website?

Have you received a communication from Wizz Air management saying that they will fire pilots, assuming unpaid leave proves unpopular?

I don't think Wizz will fire anybody, but let's see. More likely, forced unpaid leave for everyone. But even then, I'm not sure about that yet - but it could well happen.

newspino

Hi guys
ppjn says wizzair continues to recruit for their 2013 needs. Any idea when exactly in 2013 they will start to hire pilots again and which bases will new entrants most likely get?

captgeorgekajo

Wizz are recruiting now - check the website. Re bases, there is a lot of expansion in Romania especially OTP, plus also Belgrade and Kiev - so they would be safe bets.

drfaust

I personally have been politely asked by my base captain if I was interested in UPL and said no due to financial constraints (SFO), and nobody put any pressure on me. The thing that worries me is if people start getting forced to take it. Then you may as well give them a pay cut of 4.2% (on the basis of two weeks UPL), which it effectively is, and get it over with. So; yes they have asked for PPL to take UPL, no as far as I know the policy is not to force anybody. Yes there have been some rumours, no I can't give any info on whether they're true or not as I simply don't know but from my personal experience I would guess that it's not true.

I joined a year ago and am having a good time working here with nice crews on nice, well maintained kit with a good roster. The standards are high and the flying highly enjoyable. The pay could definitely be better for the kit we operate, but for now I'm not complaining as I joined non type rated and didn't have to pay for anything. If you're relatively young and uncommitted and an adventurous type, it's a load of fun being sent along the whole network (if you want) to do flying from different bases. I really enjoy doing that.

Do with this info what you wish. Bear in mind I had the choice of going elsewhere at the time and don't regret staying in Europe.

Narrow Runway

How interesting. A rumour about certain bases and offers that can't be refused.

I will ask my sources and no doubt find out the facts.

Lion Tamer

All this fuss about unpaid leaves...would be easier if Wizz would simply ask pilots to donate money. Probably next winter.