Ryanair experienced pilot recruitment - UK licenses
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Sutton
Posts: 518
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RYR commuting pilots.
Following on from Kingmaker’s question……do UK based RYR commuting pilots still have the right to position to EU bases for a week based from a hotel? They are not living permanently in the EU so presumably don’t need the right to live there?
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: ortac
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I believe you are allowed only to work 90 days within 180 if you are a U.K. citizen within the EU , the border police especially Germany are enforcing this with checking passport stamps, any Ryanair crew jumpseating to Europe from U.K in order to work and not being stamped in are breaking the law.
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Between 0 and 41000 ft
Age: 34
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just remember the restriction is not where you live but where you're from. So if you are a EU citizen living in the UK, you can commute/work in the EU & UK without any problem or restrictions.
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Airport Hotel
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That would depend on whether the U.K. citizen also has an EU passport and/or whether they have an existing right to live/work in the country they are commuting to/from. If either case applies , there are no restrictions so long as they have confined their commuting between the U.K. and whichever EU country or countries they have those rights in.
If the U.K. citizen has no EU passport in addition to their U.K. one, or a pre existing right to work in another EU country (or the relevant permits / paperwork) then the only EU country that they can continue to live/work/commute to or from without restriction is the Republic of Ireland.
Whichever way you look at it, it’s a horrible mess, and quite depressing - especially for those U.K. citizens that could see all the problems that might come our way if we left the EU….
If the U.K. citizen has no EU passport in addition to their U.K. one, or a pre existing right to work in another EU country (or the relevant permits / paperwork) then the only EU country that they can continue to live/work/commute to or from without restriction is the Republic of Ireland.
Whichever way you look at it, it’s a horrible mess, and quite depressing - especially for those U.K. citizens that could see all the problems that might come our way if we left the EU….
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Between 0 and 41000 ft
Age: 34
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
EDIT: Found this, you can stay up to 7 days without a visa:
https://www.gov.uk/government/public.../aircrew-crm02
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: I wouldn't know.
Posts: 4,466
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It is a somewhat murky question. The TCA (negotiated and signed by the UK and the EU) allows for UK airlines to wet lease in aircraft from EU carriers, wet lease does include the aircraft and the crew to operate it (ACMI, Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance). EU airlines cannot do the same from UK carriers under normal circumstances, there is only a provision for special circumstances which in every single case is subject to in depth review and approval from the local EU authority. The TCA, as negotiated and signed by both sides is not about a level playing field in that regard, it is deliberately written for unequal access to each others markets.
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Around the world
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You can commute wherever you want in the globe on your days off, the issue is that your contract must be in a place where you have the legal rights to do so. I.e. UK citizens in the UK and UE citizens in UE... With exception to the ones in the pre Brexit situation.

Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Paying to sit in the RHS should eventually be challenged at the European Court of Justice (given Ryanair is based in Ireland) collectively by the unions (pity aviation unions are so weak).
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Not in UK
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Non rated recruitment just opened for UK based first officers. Would suggest there is slightly more difficulty recruiting people with right to work in UK.
Any chance of same happening for left seat?
Also noticed that BALPA just announced pay will be restored to pre-covid levels from 1st December...
Any chance of same happening for left seat?
Also noticed that BALPA just announced pay will be restored to pre-covid levels from 1st December...
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: AUS
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Non rated recruitment just opened for UK based first officers. Would suggest there is slightly more difficulty recruiting people with right to work in UK.
Any chance of same happening for left seat?
Also noticed that BALPA just announced pay will be restored to pre-covid levels from 1st December...
Any chance of same happening for left seat?
Also noticed that BALPA just announced pay will be restored to pre-covid levels from 1st December...
Still a requirement to convert CAA to IAA which is now very very difficult unless you wish to sit all ATPL exams again I believe. Long way round via Malta looks an option.
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Not in UK
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: ??-ask crewing
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Really? My straw poll was - very few. I'm guessing the pilots would need to be able to fly both the EI and G reg planes?
Due to a weak pound and first round BALPA/pilot capitulation at a very poor pay deal, the British pilots are very cheap for Ryanair, so the demand will certainly be there; the supply - not so much (particularly, type rated). Judging by the rate of ex uk Ryanair drivers showing up, the boot is on the other foot, the prospect of brutal UK taxes (already a 62% marginal tax rate for captains) providing an extra push away.
Due to a weak pound and first round BALPA/pilot capitulation at a very poor pay deal, the British pilots are very cheap for Ryanair, so the demand will certainly be there; the supply - not so much (particularly, type rated). Judging by the rate of ex uk Ryanair drivers showing up, the boot is on the other foot, the prospect of brutal UK taxes (already a 62% marginal tax rate for captains) providing an extra push away.
Last edited by Sick; 8th Nov 2022 at 15:22.
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: gatwick
Age: 49
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Latest from a few sources indicate that RyanAir have left it a little late to reinstate crew salaries. There is a real outflow taking place in UK and also in EU. Seems most heading to the ME.
If the trend continues then RyanAir may have to recruit a fair number of skippers for next summer. Cadet recruitment numbers have meant the FO's just haven't had the hours opportunity and the winter slow down isn't helping. I'm pretty sure that RyanAir will just bite the bullet as they will not tolerate another shortage which caused major cancellations a few years back. They are the darlings of the stock market and MOL has in his mind his stock options.
If the trend continues then RyanAir may have to recruit a fair number of skippers for next summer. Cadet recruitment numbers have meant the FO's just haven't had the hours opportunity and the winter slow down isn't helping. I'm pretty sure that RyanAir will just bite the bullet as they will not tolerate another shortage which caused major cancellations a few years back. They are the darlings of the stock market and MOL has in his mind his stock options.