Emirates Schedules Pilot Recruitment Roadshows in Madrid and Lisbon in August 2026

Spain & Portugal – Dubai-based airline Emirates will hold pilot recruitment roadshows in Madrid and Lisbon from August 6 to 9, 2026, covering captain, accelerated-command and first-officer opportunities.

• Six sessions are scheduled across the two cities: three at the Madrid Marriott Auditorium Hotel & Conference on August 6 and 7, followed by three at the Sheraton Lisboa Hotel & Spa on August 8 and 9.
• The Madrid program comprises sessions at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on August 6 and 10:00 a.m. on August 7. The Lisbon program will follow the same format, with sessions at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on August 8 and 10:00 a.m. on August 9.
• Emirates is inviting interested pilots and their partners to attend. Registration links are available through the airline’s pilot careers platform.
• The sessions will cover the application and selection process, available flight-deck pathways, training, career progression, rosters, annual leave, employment benefits and relocation to Dubai. Emirates’ event agenda also identifies a new Narrowbody-to-Widebody Direct Entry Captain campaign.
• Emirates currently advertises three principal experienced-pilot pathways: Direct Entry Captain from 7,000 total flight hours, Accelerated Command from 5,000 hours and First Officer from 2,000 hours.
• Direct Entry Captain applicants must hold a valid ICAO ATPL and unrestricted Class 1 medical, demonstrate ICAO English Level 5 or higher and have at least 150 hours of recent experience on type during the preceding 12 months. The published opportunity is directed towards Airbus captains.
• The Accelerated Command programme targets experienced narrowbody captains with Airbus fly-by-wire or Boeing command experience. Applicants require at least 5,000 total flight hours, an ICAO ATPL, unrestricted Class 1 medical, English Level 5 or higher and 150 hours on type during the preceding 12 months.
• First Officer applicants require at least 2,000 hours on fixed-wing, multi-crew commercial jet aircraft exceeding 50 tonnes maximum take-off weight, together with current Boeing or Airbus fly-by-wire experience. Emirates also requires a valid ICAO ATPL, unrestricted Class 1 medical and recent time on type.
• Emirates conducts pilot selection in two stages. The first is remote and includes a recorded interview, psychometric and abstract-reasoning testing and a live digital panel interview; shortlisted applicants then attend a two-day assessment in Dubai involving simulator, aptitude and medical assessments.
• Newly recruited pilots complete aircraft-specific training in Dubai. Emirates lists approximately 40–55 days for Boeing 777 initial or conversion training and 45–55 days for Airbus A380 initial or conversion training, including ground school, full-flight simulator training and line flying under supervision.
• The airline’s pilot careers platform reports approximately 5,000 flight-deck personnel from more than 140 nationalities and around 270 aircraft. The operating fleet comprises Airbus A350, Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft.

Source: Emirates