British Airways is the United Kingdom's flag carrier and one of the world's leading airlines, flying from London Heathrow, London Gatwick and London City Airport to hundreds of destinations across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and Australia. As part of the International Airlines Group (IAG), British Airways recruits across flying, airport, engineering and head office teams, and its official careers portal is updated whenever new intakes open.
This guide brings together the roles and career areas currently shown on the official British Airways careers portal, the requirements the airline itself states — including its cabin crew talent pool and pilot recruitment — and the exact steps to apply online. Recruitment for cabin crew and pilots opens in intakes and places fill quickly, so check the portal regularly and set up a job alert for the role you want.
Available Job Vacancies:
Roles and career areas shown on the official British Airways careers portal include:
- Cabin Crew — talent pool open for future opportunities across British Airways mainline (London Heathrow and London Gatwick), BA Cityflyer (London City) and BA Euroflyer
- Pilots — Direct Entry Pilots for the short-haul and long-haul fleets, BA Cityflyer Direct Entry Captain roles (including an Edinburgh base), and Future Pilot schemes for aspiring pilots
- Ground Operations — airport and ramp teams at Heathrow, Gatwick and London City
- Engineering & Maintenance — aircraft engineers and technicians
- Customer Service & Contact Centre — customer-facing roles supporting passengers before and after they travel
- Head Office & Corporate Roles — commercial, digital, finance and support teams based mainly at Waterside, Heathrow
Job Requirements:
For Cabin Crew, the airline's own job profile states:
- Aged 18 or over at the time of application
- At least 12 months of customer service experience
- Proficient in spoken and written English
- The right to work in the UK, and a passport that allows unrestricted global travel
- Height between 1.575m and 2.01m, with a vertical functional reach of at least 2.01m
- Medically and physically fit for the role, and able to pass a Criminal Record Check, full five-year employment checks and obtain an airside pass
- Willing to work shifts covering 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and to complete initial training to gain the UK CAA Cabin Crew Attestation (training is provided)
For Pilots, core requirements include a valid UK CAA Part-FCL licence (unless the individual advert states otherwise), a valid Class 1 medical, and the flying hours and aircraft experience set out in each vacancy — experienced captains applying to BA Cityflyer, for example, need a current type rating with at least 4,000 hours total time including 1,500 hours as pilot in command. Always read the individual advert on the portal, because minimum hours and ratings differ by fleet and base.
Salary and Benefits:
- British Airways does not publish one standard salary figure for these roles on its careers portal, so none is given here; pay and terms are confirmed in the individual job advert and at offer stage
- Cabin Crew contracts recruited through the talent pool are permanent, as stated on the airline's own application page
- Comprehensive training is provided for cabin crew and flight crew roles, including the UK CAA Cabin Crew Attestation course for new cabin crew
- A structured career path across the British Airways family — mainline, BA Cityflyer and BA Euroflyer — with internal progression opportunities
- Full terms and benefits for each role are confirmed by British Airways during the hiring process
How To Apply:
- Step 1: Open the official British Airways careers portal using the APPLY NOW button below and search by role, career area or location.
- Step 2: Read the full advert for your role, especially the minimum criteria — cabin crew applicants should check the age, customer service, height and reach, and UK right-to-work requirements before applying.
- Step 3: Complete the online application on the portal; for cabin crew you will also complete an online assessment about how you would respond in different situations.
- Step 4: Shortlisted candidates move through the stages the airline sets for that role, which can include recorded interview questions, an assessment centre and pre-employment checks (criminal record and five-year employment checks).
- Step 5: If you cannot find your role today, join the cabin crew talent pool or create a job alert on the portal so you are told when the next intake opens.
APPLY NOW
Apply only through the official portal: British Airways never charges candidates any fee for an application, assessment or training. Job seekers comparing international airline careers can also see the Jetstar Airways careers in Australia and the TUI Airways careers guides on this website.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1. How do I apply for a British Airways job?
Applications are made online only, through the official British Airways careers portal. Search for the role, complete the application form and, for cabin crew, the online assessment that follows.
Q2. What are the main British Airways cabin crew requirements?
You must be 18 or over, have at least 12 months of customer service experience, be fluent in spoken and written English, hold the right to work in the UK with a passport allowing unrestricted global travel, and meet the height range of 1.575m to 2.01m with a vertical reach of at least 2.01m.
Q3. Is cabin crew recruitment open all the time?
Cabin crew are recruited first from the airline's talent pool whenever a requirement arises, so joining the talent pool is the best first step. It gives you early visibility of potential roles, locations and start dates across Heathrow, Gatwick, London City and BA Euroflyer.
Q4. Do I need the right to work in the UK?
Yes. British Airways cabin crew applicants must already have the right to work in the UK, together with a passport that allows unrestricted global travel, and must be able to pass criminal record and five-year employment checks for an airside pass.
Q5. Does British Airways charge any fee to apply?
No. Applications and assessments are free through the official careers portal. Never pay anyone who asks for money for a British Airways application, assessment or training place.
