Virgin Atlantic - Airbus First Officers and Senior First Officers

Job Description

We are now also welcoming EU nationals to apply for this role, and upon job offer we will provide you with a 5-year sponsorship with the right to live and work in the UK!

Job Details


Salary: Competitive plus excellent benefits
Contract: Permanent
Location: London Heathrow

In a nutshell


As a member of our Flight Crew, you will be joining the UK’s only exclusively long-haul airline. Flying out of London Heathrow to exciting destinations such as New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Delhi, Barbados, Antigua and many more.

Our pilots head up our flying operation every day, being part of the crew and the wider team that make the difference to our customers as they fly Virgin Atlantic. As a high performing and motivated professional pilot, you will give our customers an exceptional journey, delivering consistent operational excellence in the sky whilst maintaining our high safety standards.

We have one of the youngest, cleanest, and most technologically advanced twin-engine wide-body fleet of any airline. So, as a pilot, you’ll be flying industry leading modern and efficient aircraft, which is being further renewed with deliveries every year.


Day to day

When operating, you will demonstrate excellent aircraft handling ability. Extensive procedural and technical knowledge as well as strong leadership, and exemplary human factors. All of which will give you the passion and drive to be a future Commander here at Virgin Atlantic Airways

You’ll work in a team built around trust and have close communication with our Flight Service Manager, cabin crew and ground teams. Your actions will continue to enhance the reputation of the brand and impact our customers every time you report for duty.

We will provide recurrent training and checking to the professional and medical standards required by the CAA and Virgin Atlantic. We thrive off the challenges we face and this furthers our personal growth, supported by our industry leading training and development team.


About you

We inspire everyone to take on the world, championing inclusivity, activism, and challenger spirit. It guides us in everything we do as we strive to make progress on the issues that matter the most

Our Pilot community is made up of diverse backgrounds, so respect and teamwork are fundamental. If you have a genuine passion for flying, for all aspects of aviation and want to play a key role in helping us to become the ‘Most Loved’ Travel Company, why not apply today?

We are looking for pilots to join us as First Officers and Senior First Officers from all four corners of the industry, from Short Haul commanders to Long Haul First Officers.

To be suitable to join us on the Airbus, you must be current and qualified on one of the following AC types:

Airbus A319/320/321/330/350


A minimum experience of 100 route sectors and 1500 hours (FO) / 3000 hours (SFO) of flight time on a multi-pilot turbojet or a multi-pilot turbo-prop aeroplane, having a maximum take-off mass of not less than 10 tonnes or a certificated passenger seating configuration of more than 19 passengers.
(Within the above total flying hours, at least 500 hours of these must be one of the aircraft types highlighted above (hours spent solely as a cruise pilot are not included)).

Before starting with us, you also need the following:

• Hold a current UK Class One Medical
• Unfrozen ATPL licence issued by the UK CAA at the date of joining.
• Have a valid United Kingdom Flight Crew License (ATPL) issued by the UK CAA.
• A valid type rating on your UK license, on one of the aircraft types highlighted above.
• The ability to demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English (certified as ICAO level 6 English Proficiency when applying)

What we offer

Our pioneering spirit and passion keeps our brand alive, and with one of the best concessionary packages in the industry, we give our people the rewards and benefits that they deserve. Because the best, deserve the best.

• Private Medical Scheme
• Up to seven flights a year to any of Virgin Atlantic’s global destinations (did someone say Vegas!)
• Generous contributory pension scheme
• A high-energy work environment that supports diversity, equity, and inclusion and encourages you to bring your whole self to work
• Access to our employee assistance programme and Digital GP service
• Industry-leading Staff Travel benefits


Be yourself - Our differences make us stronger

Our customers come from all walks of life and so do our colleagues. That’s why we’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and actively encourage applications from all backgrounds. At Virgin Atlantic we believe everyone can take on the world - no matter your age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disabilities, religion, or beliefs. We celebrate difference, and everything that makes our colleagues unique, by upholding an inclusive environment in which we can all thrive. So that everyone at Virgin Atlantic can be themselves and know they belong.