European Pilots

16/04/2025

Last year, a Romanian court ruled in favour of a group of dismissed pilots, members of FPU Romania, finding that Wizz Air had failed to follow proper collective dismissal procedures under Romanian labour law.

FPU Romania had been at the forefront of the efforts, taking the airline to court over dismissals, discrimination, and other violation of labour laws. Our new article also highlights the various legal challenges against Wizz in Hungary and Bulgaria.

Share your story with us at communications@eurocockpit.eu

BUCHAREST | BRUSSELS When Wizz Air dismissed a thousand pilots and cabin crew members in 2020, citing the need to root out “bad apples” –pilots who were “often sick” or “caused grief” – the airline likely did not anticipate the repercussions.

17/03/2025

A strong community of pilot experts is key to shaping the future of aviation.

Last week, we hosted two days of ECA Expert Training, bringing together engaged and passionate professionals. These experts were eager to exchange insights and further strengthen their role as influential voices within their associations and beyond.

23/01/2025

Capt. Tanja Harter, ECA President, for Politico Europe:

"We do welcome the focus on looking into the introduction of safety enhancements, including advanced flight deck technologies, but we remain adamant that this must be done in view of always retaining two pilots on the flight deck. Whether this is a genuine course correction by EASA, or just a nod to public concerns, the jury’s still out."

Airlines want to cut the number of pilots to save money, while unions are opposed. The EU Aviation Safety Agency is in the middle.

06/12/2024

Tanja Harter has been elected as the first female president of ECA, marking a historic milestone for the organisation!

With more than 25 years of experience as a professional pilot, Captain Harter currently flies the A320 family for Lufthansa and is a seasoned CRM instructor and licensed business coach. She has served on the ECA Executive Board since 2018, contributing significantly to pilot training and safety initiatives, including authoring key documents like the Pilot Training Compass and Future Airline Pilot Profession.

Captain Tanja Harter has been elected as the first female president of the European Cockpit Association (ECA), marking a historic milestone for the organisation that represents over 40,000 professional pilots across 33 European countries.

03/12/2024

Among all Ryanair Group airlines, none has reached a 60% satisfaction rate among pilots.

Are you a pilot at one of these airlines? What do you think could improve your work experience?

Check out the full Social Rating results—link in our bio.

12/11/2024

Excellent exchange of views with EP President Roberta Metsola, yesterday, focussing on the pilots’ perspective on key challenges where the European Parliament can positively shape our sector’s future.

The Airline Pilots Association Malta (ALPA Malta) – together with the European Cockpit Association (ECA) – met with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola.

During the fruitful discussion with President Metsola, the pilots' representatives stressed the need to continuously focus on and prioritize safety in aviation, as well as the need to modernise the functioning of the EU Aviation market to meet today's industry challenges in a fair and responsible way. In light of the recent European Parliament hearing of the EU Commissioner-Designate for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Mr. Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the pilots' representatives welcomed his emphasis on safety, as well as his commitment to propose a revision of the EU Air Services Regulation and to conduct an evaluation of working conditions in transport within his first 100 days in office.

07/11/2024

These airlines are at the bottom of the rankings, facing severe criticism. The one in 50th position was even called out for poor planning stability and low wages, with pilots highlighting its use of non-EU staffing agencies to bypass regulations. 😦

Before you swipe left, take a guess! Which three airlines do European pilots rank as the worst to work for in 2024?

To see the full results, click the link in our bio.

06/11/2024

16% of European pilots were self-employed in 2014. Most of them (84%) were working for low-cost airlines.

What is this percentage now? Fill in the Ghent University survey

👉 You can find the links for both pilots and cabin crew in our bio.

31/10/2024

On October 16th, we had the pleasure of hosting MEP Johan Danielsson for a unique flight simulator experience, showcasing the parallels between pilots and MEPs in ensuring safety—be it in the skies or through strong policies.

Under the expert guidance of our Board Directors—Capt. Tanja Harter, Capt. Patrick Arpino, and Capt. Gianluca Carpino—MEP Danielsson took the controls, diving into the complexities of a pilot's role.

This wasn't just about flying; it was an opportunity to discuss the demands and intricacies of the pilot profession. With dedicated MEPs like Johan Danielsson, these collaborations are essential for a bright future in Europe's aviation industry.🛫

29/10/2024

16% of European pilots were self-employed in 2014. Most of them (84%) were working for low-cost airlines. What is this percentage now? Fill in the Ghent University survey

The link for pilots and cabin crew are in our bio.

22/10/2024

They say these airlines tend to treat their employees like family. The pilots are proud, engaged and tend to remain for the long run.

Before you swipe left, take a guess! Which three airlines do European pilots rank as the best to work for?