Aviation jobs in Baltic States

[pedrobaltic]

Anyone have any experience of working for an airline as gorund or flight crew in the Baltic States such as Air Baltic, Lithuanian Airlines or Air Estonia? Interested in knowing how the salaries and conditions compare with beter known "Western" European airlines.

[IRISHPILOT]

Estonian, LAL / Lithuanian only take locals, AB takes foreign Flight crew and maintenance crew, really depends on what stage you are at and what you have to offer.

No idea about other ground jobs.

If you are more specific, especially what (if) rating you have, hours, left or right seat...

cheers IP

[JStone]

In terms of Lithuanian Airlines Irishpilot is wrong, there are about 20 foreign pilots on there 737/757 fleet, me being one of them. However they are not recruiting at this time cause its approaching the end of summer. Aurela, also takes foreign pilots. Hope this helps...

[Romeo India Xray]

Latcharter have some non-local flight deck crew, BT have lots.

If you mean handling jobs by "ground" then I think Riga are mostly (if not all) locals as all handling is either by Riga airport or LAL. If you mean back of house airline jobs then I think both BT and Latcharter have foreigners in various roles. BT advertise them on the website when they become available, not sure how you get Latcharter back of house (maybe a call to Icelandair (the parent) would help).

At BT, pay is quite low for FOs starting without a type rating, for commanders coming in on contract it is on par with other airlines. As I don't work for either it would be hard for me to be more specific (above info based on reports from friends). Latcharter have a bit higher pay scales from what I gather.

As far as the place goes, I wouldn't want to live and work in any other part of the world. Standard of living pound for pound is WAY higher than in the UK or elsewhere in W Europe.

Any other advice you want, just PM me.

[samurai737]

In the AirBaltic there are about 20% foreigners, even more. They stopped reqruiting meanwhile(economic situation) FlyLaL has some foreigners. Est.Air taking only locals, there is no chance to get the job. There is nice to live, it is a fact. Many beautiful girls, etc. The salary is low, estonian top captain making about 3900 EUR, after tax, in Air Baltic top cap making about 5700EUR(maximum) for 90 block hrs.

[pedrobaltic]

Thanks all for the feedback so far.

[pedrobaltic]

Thanks RIX, I have sent you a PM