Unlike Wizz Air, that did not indicate from where it plans to recruit, Blue Air, owned by Romanian shareholders, is looking for pilots on the local market. According to market analysts, there is a shortage of pilots in Romania, due to the low number of “free of charge” seats the state provided in the past few years. Moreover, classes take three years to complete.
Wizz Air officials said that it is constantly looking for pilots for both its existing bases and new ones. However, they indicated that they are not facing a workforce shortage at present. “The air industry is having difficulties and many companies are reducing their activity, releasing pilots onto the market,” Wizz Air representatives said.
The salaries of Romanian pilots are less than half those of pilots in Western Europe or those flying across the ocean. According to market data, the average salary of a pilot in Romania is €5,000-7,000.
