Ryanair Strikes Back at Norwegian Air in Pilot-Poaching Battle
- Chief People Officer Eddie Wilson lays out plans in letter
- Airline has hired 830 aviators so far this year, Wilson says
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Ryanair Holdings Plc is looking to poach pilots from Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA as the Irish discounter hits back after aircrew defections contributed to its flight-cancellation fiasco.
Europe’s biggest budget carrier has been seeking to bolster pilot ranks after Norwegian Air and U.K. competitor Jet2, which operate Boeing Co. 737 planes similar to Ryanair’s, successfully lured away employees. The effort includes sending recruiters to Brazil and the United Arab Emirates as well as retaliating against rivals with its own poaching. The carrier has added about 830 pilots to its ranks this year, including 210 over the last three months.