Air cabin crew : Employers and vacancy sources

Airlines operate on a chartered or scheduled basis or some may operate a mixture of both. Chartered flights usually run during the summer and/or skiing seasons to the most popular tourist destinations, whereas scheduled flights operate at regular times all year round and go to a wider range of destinations.

Typical employers include large and medium-sized British airlines and international carriers. International Air Transportation Association (IATA)  website has a list of member passenger and cargo airlines, consisting of around 230 airlines in over 115 countries (see membership section). Individual airports also usually have a list of the airlines and tour operators operating from their airport on their website.

The current economic conditions have hit the airline industry hard and many airlines are adjusting by changing terms and conditions of contracts or restructuring. Not all airlines have been equally affected, however, and some companies are still recruiting, particularly international airlines and those in the Middle East. Keep visiting the websites of individual airlines to keep up to date with recruitment developments.

Temporary seasonal opportunities may be available through airlines and tour operators to cover the peak summer period (May to October).

Permanent contracts are rare and competition for them is fierce - it may take several years of seasonal work before cabin crew can apply for a permanent contract.

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• Websites of individual airlines.
• Cabincrew.com
• Aviation Jobsearch    
• Flight International  
• Local and national press.

Speculative approaches to airlines are also common. Research the airline you are interested in thoroughly and target your application accordingly.

Recruitment agencies rarely handle vacancies.

Get tips on job hunting, CVs and covering letters and interviews.