Ryanair
Future Flyer Academy
With Astonfly, train over 24 months on a Ryanair-focused path, with a conditional job offer signed before training and one clear goal: reaching the cockpit of Europe’s leading airline.
- Ryanair job offer before training begins
- 737 type rating funded by Ryanair
- Astonfly guarantee: Pass or Get a Refund
Ryanair, Europe’s leading airline
Choosing Ryanair means joining Europe’s largest airline: the biggest network, the youngest and most modern fleet on the continent (new-generation 737s), and therefore the most opportunities to fly and progress quickly.
N°1
In Europe
The largest European air network, with a fleet in continuous growth.
216 M
passengers per year, approx.
Nearly 650
aircraft in the fleet
300
737 on order
30,000
aviation professionals
- 36 countries
- +220 airports
- 95 bases
- ≈ 3,800 flights/day
What it means for you, as a pilot
Captain possible in 4 to 5 years
Through the Route-to-Command programme, progression to captain is structured and fast, depending on your performance and the airline’s needs.
Some of the best rosters in Europe
A fixed, predictable rhythm, often 5 days on followed by 4 days off, for a far better work-life balance than at many airlines.
The youngest and most modern fleet in Europe
You fly next-generation 737s, among the newest and most fuel-efficient aircraft on the continent.
Many base options
The Ryanair network offers assignment opportunities at many bases across Europe, depending on available positions and operational needs.
Data sources
- Ryanair Corporate(opens in a new tab)
- FY26 results(opens in a new tab)
- Ryanair Careers(opens in a new tab)
Conditions and operational needs subject to change.
More flights. More aircraft. More pilots to train.
With more than 1.1 million flights scheduled in 2025, Ryanair operates on a far larger scale than other major European airlines. This level of activity requires thousands of qualified pilots, regular recruitment and a training organisation able to support the group’s growth.
1,145,846
flights scheduled by Ryanair in 2025
That’s roughly 3,140 flights scheduled per day on average.
A volume that translates into crew needs
1,000+
new pilots to train each year
Ryanair plans to train more than 1,000 new pilots a year to support the growth of its operations.
Flights in 2025 — European comparison
- Ryanair
- 1.15 M— ≈ 3,140 per day · source: OAG
- easyJet
- 587 K— ≈ 1,610 per day · source: OAG
- Lufthansa
- 392 K— ≈ 1,070 per day · source: OAG
- Wizz Air
- 334 K— ≈ 920 per day · source: OAG
- British Airways
- 311 K— ≈ 850 per day · source: OAG
- Air France
- 310 K— ≈ 850 per day · source: Air France
- Iberia Group
- 185 K— ≈ 510 per day · source: Iberia Group
- ITA Airways
- 123 K— ≈ 340 per day · source: ITA Airways
- TAP Air Portugal
- 120 K— ≈ 330 per day · source: TAP Air Portugal
Flights scheduled in 2025 — sources: OAG and airline publications. Colours reflect each airline’s identity.
What this scale changes for pilots
A dense network, a growing fleet and a high volume of rotations create a continuous need for pilots trained to the airline’s standards. This activity also multiplies base options, exposure to line operations and progression prospects.
- Nearly 650 aircraft
- About 3,800 flights a day
- More than 1,000 new pilots to train each year
Sources and methodology
- OAG — Takeoff 2025(opens in a new tab)
- OAG — Ryanair Performance Statistics 2025(opens in a new tab)
- Air France — 2025 summer and winter schedules(opens in a new tab)
- Iberia Group — 2025 summer schedule(opens in a new tab)
- ITA Airways — 2025 operational results(opens in a new tab)
- TAP Air Portugal — H1 2025 operational results(opens in a new tab)
- Ryanair Corporate — key figures and pilot training(opens in a new tab)
Data for Ryanair, easyJet, Lufthansa, Wizz Air and British Airways come from scheduled flights published by OAG. Figures for Air France, Iberia Group, ITA Airways and TAP Air Portugal are based on the schedules and operational results published by those airlines, over the same 2025 annual scope. OAG frequency refers to the number of one-way flights scheduled in the airlines’ timetables.
What is the Ryanair programme?
Ryanair selects and audits a limited number of partner schools in Europe, then follows students throughout their training to ensure its standards are met. In France, Astonfly is the only school selected and the official partner since 2023, following an audit of its teaching, fleet and results.
You train for 24 months at Astonfly, with regular monitoring by Ryanair. A conditional job offer is signed before the programme begins: your professional goal is set from the start, subject to your success and to meeting the required conditions.
- Admission & selection
You first apply to the programme
Before joining the Ryanair Future Flyer Academy programme, you must meet Astonfly’s admission conditions and pass the selection process. These two steps validate your profile before entering training.
See the admission conditionsSee the selection steps
- Admission conditions
- Online selection & interview
- Pre-training commitment
A conditional job offer from enrolment
Before you start, you sign a conditional job offer with Ryanair. Your professional goal is thus set from the moment you enter the programme.
- Signed before training
- Subject to success
- Astonfly training
You train with Astonfly for 24 months
Astonfly delivers your airline pilot training full-time and in English, from the fundamentals to the skills expected on joining an airline.
- 24 months full-time
- 100% in English
- Ryanair monitoring
Your progress is monitored by Ryanair
Ryanair follows your results and progress during training to check that you reach the standards expected under the programme.
See the standards monitored by Ryanair
- Regular monitoring
- Progress assessed
- Ryanair standards
- Final validation
You take the Ryanair final validation
At the end of training, a final assessment confirms your ability to continue the path towards joining the airline.
- Interview
- Simulator test
- Type rating
Ryanair funds your Boeing 737 type rating
After validation, Ryanair funds your Boeing 737 type rating, the last step before joining as a first officer.
- 737 type rating funded
- Preparation on the airline’s aircraft
- Joining as a first officer
The programme explained in 90 seconds
Ryanair FFA with Astonfly
What Ryanair and Astonfly expect during your training
At the end of the programme, you join Ryanair as a First Officer, subject to passing your training.
Here is exactly what is expected.
The heart of the programme
What you must achieve to land the job
Staying in the Ryanair Future Flyer Academy rests on precise criteria, known from the start. Theory results, practical progress, professional conduct and final validation are monitored throughout the training by Astonfly and Ryanair.
Meeting these six conditions is essential to continue the programme and keep the benefit of the conditional job offer.
No more than 4 failed theory exams
Steady progress throughout the theory.
At least 85% average in the theory exams
A solid command of airline pilot theory.
Theory completed in 11 months maximum
A standard training progression.
Flight tests passed first time
Being ready and reliable at the time of the practical tests.
Exemplary attitude and behaviour during training
The professional posture expected in an airline.
Ryanair final selection passed
The last step, run by Ryanair.
Key takeaway — demanding but clear criteria, known from the start — with Astonfly’s support to reach them.
A fast, structured career path at Ryanair
Ryanair highlights a possible progression from cadet to Captain in 4 to 5 years after the type rating, depending on conditions, performance and operational needs.
Step 1
24 months
Astonfly training
24 months of airline pilot training, full-time and in English, taking you from scratch to the expected level.
Step 2
After training
737 qualification
The qualification to fly the Boeing 737 is funded by Ryanair, after you pass your training and the final validation.
Step 3
First role
Joining Ryanair
You join Ryanair as a first officer, subject to passing your course and the airline’s final validation.
Step 4
First years
Line experience
You build your skills in real flying, alongside experienced captains, to gain autonomy and flight hours.
Step 5
4 to 5 years
Progression to captain
Progression to captain is possible depending on your experience, performance and Ryanair’s needs.
They trained at Astonfly; today they fly for Ryanair
Hear from former Astonfly students who joined Ryanair after their training.
In 2018, I joined Astonfly for ATP integrated training. The quality of the teaching team and meeting brilliant instructors gave me the chance to reach my goal in a field I’m passionate about. The methods this school instilled — a taste for work and effort, a sense of perseverance — allowed me to be prepared for the type rating as well as line operations. I can only warmly recommend this school and thank the whole team who supported me in my work to reach the controls of an airliner.
Without Astonfly, I probably wouldn’t have learned about Ryanair’s recruitment programme so quickly. I was lucky to be among the first to take part in it after my training. Thanks to the school’s support, I was able to attend conferences, understand in detail what was expected of me, and prepare effectively for my future airline role. This preparation and follow-up let me seize opportunities I wouldn’t have imagined otherwise.
“Do it well, or don’t do it.” That is Astonfly’s motto. I finished my integrated course at Astonfly in September 2020. This school near Paris was growing fast, with quality service and a state-of-the-art fleet similar to airliners. Also renowned for its theory and practical teaching, it enabled me to meet airlines’ requirements right at the end of my training, such as safety and adaptability.
A former Astonfly student who completed airline pilot training, I was fortunate to receive high-quality training, with a professionalism that matched the demands of the job, on a fleet of modern aircraft, with skilled and demanding instructors. Thanks to this quality training, I had the chance to pass my Boeing 737 type rating then be selected immediately by Air Baltic. I am currently continuing my career at Ryanair.
A very good experience at Astonfly! Quality training, an always-available team and excellent support throughout the course. Thanks to the whole team!
During my training I was supported by passionate, demanding instructors who helped me reach the level needed to pass airline selections and now pursue my career at Ryanair. The teaching methods and standards they passed on proved especially useful in building the knowledge and skills needed to achieve my professional ambitions.
Having joined Astonfly in 2020, the training played a key role in building my aviation path. There I found a demanding and supportive environment, driven by passionate instructors deeply invested in their students’ success, along with modern training resources. I was able to join Ryanair quickly after finishing training and I thank all the staff who made this experience unforgettable. If I had to do it again, I would choose Astonfly without hesitation.
My time at Astonfly was a decisive step in my aviation path. I particularly appreciated the quality of the facilities, the modernity and reliability of the fleet, and the high level of instruction provided. This rigorous, professionalising training was a major asset in my preparation and allowed me to apply successfully and then join Ryanair.
I chose Astonfly for their professionalism and their training built to airline standards, and I'm not disappointed. They were efficient and on point. I'm grateful to their teaching and operations teams, who were there for me and answered my needs. Today I'm a first officer at Ryanair on the Boeing 737.
