Ryanair and Emirates are both embarking on major recruitment drives for cabin crew positions in Dublin, Cork, Shannon, and Dubai. Ryanair is hosting an open day on August 30th in Swords, Co Dublin, where potential applicants can learn about cabin crew roles that offer a starting salary of up to €27,000. Emirates, on the other hand, is holding open days on September 6th in Dublin, September 8th in Galway, September 22nd in Limerick, and September 24th in Cork. The airline boasts tax-free salaries that average around AED10,388 (€2,591) per month, amounting to over €31,000 per year. Both airlines are seeking new recruits as travel begins to bounce back post-pandemic and they strive to meet the demands of their expanding schedules.
Ryanair, which is currently running its largest ever summer schedule, carrying up to 600,000 passengers a day, has set a target of 300 million passengers per year by 2034. The airline group currently employs over 14,000 cabin crew members and is now looking to hire “the next generation” for its Dublin base. Applicants for Ryanair cabin crew roles must have a customer service-oriented background, demonstrate the legal right to work in the EU, be between 5ft 2in and 6ft 2in in height, be able to swim 25 meters unaided, be adaptable and willing to work a shift roster, enjoy dealing with the public, and be comfortable speaking and writing in English. No previous cabin crew experience is required, and the roles operate on a five-days-on, three-days-off roster. Successful applicants will receive a permanent and direct Ryanair contract with a starting salary of up to €27,000, which can increase to over €33,000 after one year with the company.
Emirates, which currently employs around 20,000 cabin crew members, including 200 Irish recruits, is also seeking new applicants. The airline’s open days in Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Limerick are walk-in events that do not require pre-registration. Emirates cabin crew applicants must be fluent in written and spoken English, be a natural team player with a shining personality, be at least 160cm (5ft 3in) tall and able to reach 212cm high, meet the UAE’s employment visa requirements, have at least one year of hospitality or customer service experience, and have a minimum of high-school education. Height requirements are in place to ensure that cabin crew can safely reach the overhead lockers on board. Successful candidates will receive a tax-free salary, free accommodation in Dubai, 30 calendar days’ leave per year, and a 90% discount on an unlimited number of flight tickets, albeit on a standby basis. Both Ryanair and Emirates cabin crew members enjoy various other benefits, such as highly discounted staff travel rates and sales bonuses.
If successful, the next steps for cabin crew applicants include several weeks of hospitality and safety training courses in Dublin (Ryanair) and Dubai (Emirates). Previously, Ryanair cabin crew candidates had to pay for their own training, but now they can avail of a free cabin crew training course with a daily allowance of €28. Ryanair’s recruitment event will take place at 10:30 am on August 30th at Ryanair Engineering in Swords, Co Dublin. Further information can be found on the Ryanair careers website. Emirates’ open days will be held at various locations and times, including the Hilton in Dublin, the G Hotel & Spa in Galway, the Absolute Hotel in Limerick, and the Metropole Hotel in Cork. More details can be found on the Emirates Group Careers website.
