Vueling will hire up to 200 pilots as market demand grows

Spanish budget carrier Vueling has announced plans to hire as many as 200 first officers to meet market growth demand in the 2016 summer season.

“We want to continue to provide professional opportunities to more pilots at our operational bases in Spain and elsewhere in Europe, as we have done in recent years,” COO Fernando Val said in a statement.

For the upcoming recruitment push, Vueling has established two profiles—the first covering pilots with some flying professional flying experience and the second for pilots with more experience.

Barcelona-based Vueling operates 365 routes to over 160 cities in Europe, the Middle East and Africa from 22 bases. Vueling has a fleet of 100 Airbus A320 family aircraft.

The carrier launched in 2004 with two Airbus A320s, serving three cities.

CEO Alex Cruz told ATW last year, “Absolutely the biggest challenge for us is to handle growth. Growth and the success of the last few years cannot make us relax at all.” For example, “in one year Vueling added 26 new cities from Barcelona,” he said.

In August, International Airlines Group (IAG)—parent of British Airways, Iberia and Vueling—converted options for 20 Airbus 320neos into firm orders.