easyJet Pilot Selection: What to Expect in 2026
easyJet at a Glance
Fleet
340+
A320 / A320neo / A321neo
Network
1,000+
Routes across 38 countries
Main Bases
LGW/LTN
Gatwick & Luton
Questions
256
In our Prep Pack
easyJet is the UK's largest airline and Europe's second-largest low-cost carrier, operating 340+ Airbus A320 family aircraft from primary airports across 38 countries. The airline recruits for both experienced Direct Entry pilots and cadets through the Generation easyJet programme.
easyJet's recruitment is built around their "Orange Spirit" values framework. Unlike Ryanair's efficiency-focused process, easyJet places heavy emphasis on cultural fit, customer-centric thinking, and values alignment. Every stage of the selection is designed to test whether you demonstrate these values naturally.
Online Application
CV, hours, licence, medical screening
Pre-Recorded Video Interview
4–6 questions, values-focused, ~2 min per answer
Assessment Day: Group Exercise
Team task observed by HR and pilot assessors
Assessment Day: Competency Panel
STAR questions mapped to Orange Spirit values, 45–60 min
A320 Simulator Assessment
Basic handling, ILS, circuits, CRM — aptitude over experience
Understanding Orange Spirit: The Framework Behind Every Question
Every competency question at easyJet maps back to one of six Orange Spirit values. Knowing this framework gives you an edge — you can predict what the interviewer is scoring and tailor your STAR answers accordingly:
- Safety — non-negotiable foundation. Expect questions about SOP compliance, threat and error management, and situations where you prioritised safety over schedule.
- Simplicity — operational efficiency. How do you simplify complex problems? How do you communicate clearly under pressure?
- Teamwork — working with diverse crews. CRM, conflict resolution, building rapport with new colleagues every sector.
- Integrity — honesty and accountability. Admitting mistakes, following through on commitments, reporting issues rather than hiding them.
- Passion — genuine enthusiasm for aviation and the easyJet mission. Staying current with industry developments, supporting colleagues, going beyond the minimum.
- Pioneering — innovation and sustainability. Single-engine taxi, continuous descent approaches, SAF adoption, finding new ways to reduce costs and environmental impact while making travel easier.
"They didn't just ask 'give an example of teamwork.' They asked 'what does Teamwork mean at easyJet specifically, and how have you demonstrated it?' If you can't connect your answer to their values by name, you're missing the point." — PPRuNe, easyJet assessment debrief, 2025
Stage 1: Online Aptitude Tests (Aon/Cut-E)
After your application is accepted, easyJet sends a link to the Aon (formerly Cut-E) aptitude battery. The tests include personality assessment (work-related behaviour), hand-eye coordination (complex control), spatial orientation (sense of direction), multitasking capability, and an easyJet-specific co-pilot situational questionnaire where you allocate points across different crew decisions.
Results come fast — some candidates report pass/fail within 15 minutes of completion. This is the highest-volume filter. The situational questionnaire is particularly important: it tests whether your decision-making instincts align with easyJet's crew culture. There are no ATPL theory questions at this stage — it is pure aptitude and behavioural assessment.
"The co-pilot situational questionnaire was the most interesting part — you get a scenario and three possible decisions, but instead of picking one, you allocate points across them. It's testing your judgment, not your reflexes." — PPRuNe, easyJet online assessment, 2024
Stage 2: Pre-Recorded Video Interview
The video interview is values-driven. Expect 4–6 questions with approximately 30 seconds of preparation and 2 minutes of recording time. Questions often directly reference Orange Spirit: "Give an example of when you demonstrated Integrity in a professional setting." "What does Safety mean to you beyond following procedures?"
Structure each answer: 15 seconds to frame the value, 90 seconds for your STAR example, 15 seconds to connect back to easyJet specifically.
Stage 3: Assessment Day — Gatwick or Milan
Direct Entry candidates are invited to an assessment centre at easyJet's training centres in London Gatwick or Milan. The day is split: non-technical assessment (group exercise + competency panel interview) in the morning/afternoon, with the A320 simulator assessment either the same day or a separate date. Cadet assessments take place virtually via Microsoft Teams. If unsuccessful at any stage, the lockout period is 12 months (6 months for cadets on non-technical).
Dress in full business attire — suit and tie. The Orange Spirit culture is casual, but the assessment day is formal. You will also attend presentations about easyJet contracts, base options, and working life — use this opportunity to ask intelligent questions and show genuine interest.
Group Exercise
The group exercise at easyJet's assessment day involves 6–8 candidates working on a structured task — typically a prioritisation scenario, resource allocation challenge, or commercial decision-making exercise. Two assessors observe: one HR, one pilot. The exercise lasts approximately 25-30 minutes with strict time limits.
What they score: contribution quality (not quantity), active listening, building on others' ideas, time management, and how you handle disagreement. The candidate who talks the most rarely scores the highest. easyJet assessors specifically map group exercise behaviours back to the Orange Spirit values — they are looking for candidates who demonstrate Togetherness (genuine collaboration, inviting quieter members to contribute), Ownership (taking responsibility for progress and time management), Integrity (honest self-assessment and data-driven reasoning), Ambition (driving towards a quality outcome without dominating), and Passionately Pioneering (creative problem-solving and constructive challenge of assumptions).
Even in a non-flying group exercise, demonstrating familiarity with easyJet's TDODAR decision-making framework adds value. Structure your thinking aloud: assess the time available, diagnose the problem, propose options, support a decision, act on it, and review the outcome. Assessors recognise candidates who think in this structured way because TDODAR underpins all easyJet line operations. Commercial awareness also matters — understanding the LCC business model, turnaround efficiency, point-to-point network economics, and ancillary revenue strategy helps you make airline-relevant contributions that distinguish you from candidates applying generic thinking.
"The assessors sat silently for 20 minutes and wrote notes. One candidate tried to 'lead' by talking over everyone. He wasn't invited to the afternoon session. The quiet candidate who kept summarising the group's progress and asking 'have we considered X?' — she got the job." — Reddit, r/flying, easyJet group exercise, 2024
Competency Panel Interview
A 45–60 minute panel interview with an easyJet captain and HR representative. Every question maps to an Orange Spirit value. Expect 8–12 questions, all STAR-based, covering every value at least once.
Common topics: "Tell me about a time you failed." "When did you take a calculated risk?" "How do you handle someone whose work approach differs from yours?" "What recent aviation development interests you and why?" "What does easyJet's Pioneering value mean for a pilot's daily decisions?"
Know what easyJet will ask you
Questions from pilots who passed easyJet selection. HR scenarios, technical questions, sim prep — with model answers.
Get Assessment Prep Pack — €49.90A320 Simulator Assessment
The simulator session is on an Airbus A320 Level D full-motion simulator at Gatwick or Milan. For non-type-rated candidates, the assessment tests aptitude: basic handling, raw data flying, ILS tracking, visual circuits, go-arounds, and your ability to learn and improve during the session. The assessor provides a full briefing beforehand — you are not expected to know A320 systems if you are non-type-rated.
Type-Rated Candidates & CRM Scoring
For type-rated candidates, scenarios are more advanced and may include system failures, ECAM management, and non-precision approaches. CRM is weighted heavily at easyJet. Brief your intentions, make standard callouts, and communicate with the assessor throughout. A rough first approach followed by a solid correction scores higher than perfect flying with zero communication.
The PM role matters as much as PF. Call out deviations, assist with configuration, and demonstrate the kind of crew cooperation that defines easyJet's One Team value. If you make a mistake, acknowledge it, correct it, and continue — the assessor is looking for self-awareness and professionalism under pressure.
"The interview process was great — the assessor was polite, friendly, and did his best to help along the way. Always smiling, which made some of the nervousness disappear. They want you to succeed." — Glassdoor, easyJet pilot assessment, December 2025
"Be radically honest about failures. 'I forgot to set the QNH. I realised at 1000ft, executed a go-around, reported it via ASR.' This shows mature safety culture — exactly what easyJet scores for." — Candidate advice, easyJet assessment preparation, 2025
Preparing for easyJet? Two things get you to Gatwick.
A professional pilot CV that passes easyJet HR screening, and 256 real assessment questions with model answers from pilots who passed.
easyJet Pilot Assessment Preparation — Sample Questions
Preparing for the easyJet pilot assessment? Below are three questions from our easyJet question bank with the coaching frameworks that candidates use to prepare. The first shows the complete answer — all paragraphs, tips, and airline-specific context. Each of the 256 questions in the full pack averages 600 words of structured coaching per answer.
What would you do if you experienced a bird strike during takeoff or approach?
Decision Depends on Phase: Before V1 or After V1 — If a bird strike occurs before V1 and I detect a significant impact — engine surge, loss of thrust indications on ECAM, abnormal vibration, or visible damage — my decision is to reject the takeoff: thrust levers to idle, reverse thrust, maximum braking, and stop the aircraft on the remaining runway. Below V1, rejecting is almost always safer than continuing with a potentially damaged engine. After V1, I am committed to fly. I maintain V2, wings level, follow the SID or execute the engine-out procedure, and once safely climbing, I run the ECAM actions with my colleague. I would declare Mayday, request vectors for an immediate return, and brief the cabin crew for a potential evacuation. At easyJet, where operations include airports like Nice, Innsbruck, and Funchal with challenging terrain, the engine-out departure procedure is critical knowledge — I would have briefed the engine-failure contingency before takeoff.
During Takeoff (After V1) — If a bird strike occurs after V1, the takeoff continues regardless of the impact — there is insufficient runway remaining to stop. After becoming airborne, the crew assesses the damage: engine parameters (any N1/N2 drop, EGT rise, vibration?), airframe (any unusual handling, pressurisation issues?), and systems (any ECAM warnings?). If an engine has ingested birds and is damaged or failed, the crew follows the engine failure after V1 procedure: maintain V2, follow the engine-out departure, and manage the ECAM. If the engine continues to run but with reduced performance, close monitoring is required — delayed engine damage from bird ingestion can cause failure minutes after the initial strike.
During Approach — A bird strike on approach is particularly challenging because the crew is already in a high-workload, low-altitude phase. The immediate priority is maintaining aircraft control and flight path. If an engine is affected (surge, flame-out, vibration), the crew must decide: continue the approach and land (if the runway is in sight and the aircraft is stabilised) or go around (if the approach is not stabilised or the engine damage makes continued approach unsafe). The decision depends on altitude, speed, configuration, and the severity of the damage. A bird strike that causes a dual engine failure on approach is extremely rare but would require an immediate forced landing — the A320's APU can be started in-flight for electrical and hydraulic backup.
Post-Strike Actions — After landing safely: (1) Taxi clear of the runway carefully (landing gear damage from bird strike is possible). (2) Shut down the affected engine if still running with abnormal parameters. (3) Declare the incident to ATC and request emergency services if needed. (4) Complete the tech log entry and arrange an engineering inspection before the aircraft flies again — bird strike damage to engines, leading edges, radome, pitot probes, and windshield must be assessed against AMM limits. (5) File an Air Safety Report and a bird strike report (contributing to the airport's wildlife management programme).
easyJet Operational Context — Bird strikes are a regular occurrence across easyJet's European network — particularly at coastal airports (Nice, Faro, Lisbon), airports near water bodies (Amsterdam, Geneva), and during seasonal migration periods (spring and autumn). easyJet crews are trained to manage bird strike scenarios during recurrent simulation, with emphasis on engine ingestion during critical phases. The A320's CFM56 and LEAP-1A engines are certified to withstand ingestion of a 4-lb bird (medium-sized) without catastrophic failure — but larger birds or flocks can exceed this certification limit. Pilots who operate regularly from bird-prone airports incorporate bird activity into their TEM briefings: 'Threat: significant bird activity reported on final for runway 27, likely from the nearby salt marshes. Countermeasure: lights on, heightened awareness on short final, prepared for go-around if bird activity intensifies.'
Tip: Structure by phase: before V1 (reject option), after V1 (continue), approach (case-by-case). Emphasise engine monitoring after a strike — delayed failure is possible. Mention post-landing inspection requirement. Reference easyJet's coastal airports and TEM briefing for bird risk. If asked in the sim: maintain aircraft control first, then assess — do not fixate on the bird strike at the expense of flying the aircraft.
5 coaching paragraphs + tips · this level of detail for every question
How would you handle an in-flight engine failure on the A320?
Immediate Actions (Memory Items) — An engine failure in flight triggers immediate crew actions depending on the phase of flight. If during takeoff (after V1): continue the takeoff, maintain V2, follow the SID/engine-out procedure. If during cruise or approach: the priority sequence is Aviate (maintain aircraft control — the A320 in Normal Law will automatically compensate for asymmetric thrust to a degree), Navigate (maintain the intended flight path or adjust for the engine-out scenario), Communicate (declare PAN PAN or MAYDAY depending on severity and inform ATC of the situation). The PF maintains aircraft control while the PM manages the ECAM procedure.
+ 4 more paragraphs + tips in the full version
What are easyJet's core values and how do you demonstrate them?
The Six Values — easyJet's core values are Safety, Simplicity, One Team, Integrity, Passion, and Pioneering. These are not just wall posters — they are the competency framework against which every candidate is assessed during the interview and group exercise. Understanding how each value translates into cockpit behaviour is essential.
+ 4 more paragraphs + tips in the full version
256 easyJet questions with full coaching frameworks
Technical Interview (115) · HR Interview (104) · Simulator Assessment (22) · Group Exercise (10)
256
questions
~600
words per answer
30
airlines total
Lifetime access · Alternatives charge €130+ for 90-day subscriptions
What Successful Candidates Say
Learn the six values by heart. easyJet's Orange Spirit has six core values: Safety, Simplicity, Teamwork, Integrity, Passion, and Pioneering. Every competency answer should connect to at least one. Name the value explicitly: "This demonstrates easyJet's Teamwork value because..."
Customer focus is real. Unlike some airlines where "customer service" is lip service, easyJet actively scores it. Have examples of going beyond the minimum for passengers or colleagues. Their "Pioneering" value includes finding new ways to make travel easier.
Know the sustainability angle. Single-engine taxi, continuous descent approaches, SAF targets, fleet modernisation with A320neo — easyJet leads European airlines on environmental messaging. Pilots are expected to contribute operationally to fuel efficiency.
The group exercise is about listening, not leading. Summarise, include quiet people, and build consensus. The "alpha" who dominates the discussion gets filtered out. The candidate who keeps the group on track and on time scores highest.
Practise mental arithmetic. The Aon online tests include maths under time pressure — fuel uplift conversions (lbs to kgs), descent rate calculations, speed/distance/time. Not advanced maths, but speed and accuracy matter.
Dress formally despite the culture. easyJet's working culture is casual, but the assessment day is formal. Full business attire — suit and tie. First impressions count even when the company slides show people in orange polo shirts.
Quick Salary Reference (2026)
easyJet operates a pay point progression system with annual increments. Base salary is supplemented by flying pay, instructor allowances, and overtime. The airline also offers profit-sharing through a Save As You Earn (SAYE) scheme and sector-leading roster predictability (largely fixed 5/4 patterns at most bases).
| Rank | Annual (GBP) | Annual (EUR approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| First Officer (junior) | £50,000–60,000 | €59,000–70,000 |
| First Officer (senior) | £70,000–82,000 | €82,000–96,000 |
| Captain | £140,000–167,000 | €164,000–196,000 |
Figures are approximate and pre-tax. Flying supplements, overtime, and instructor allowances are additional. EU-based easyJet contracts (Switzerland, France, Italy) have separate pay scales. See our full easyJet salary breakdown for detailed progression and base comparisons.
Sources & Methodology
This guide is compiled from pilot community reports on PPRuNe (easyJet simulator assessment thread), Reddit r/flying, Glassdoor pilot interview reviews, candidate reports, and easyJet Careers public materials. Question content in our Interview Prep Pack is sourced directly from candidate reports — each question shows its source type and confidence level.
easyJet's recruitment process evolves with fleet demand and pathway changes. The Low Hour stream (opened 2024) significantly expanded who can apply. Always check the easyJet Pilots Careers page for the most current requirements and open positions. This guide was last updated in March 2026.