MADRID, Spain
Turkish Airlines' recruitment roadshow has begun in the Spanish capital of Madrid as the Turkish flag carrier seeks to recruit 600 pilots by the end of 2015.
Turkish Airlines officials are informing visitors and delegates during four sessions over two days about the airline's fleet, work and goals.
They explained on Thursday that each pilot is paid 37,240 Turkish liras (about $14,400) for 100 hours of flying, 32,000 (about $12,250) for 80 hours and 29,380 (about $11,350) for 70 hours.
A total of 4,014 pilots, including 60-70 women, currently work for the carrier, flying the company’s 249-strong fleet.
Strong interest
Turkish Airlines Madrid Director Yahya Sensoy told The Anadolu Agency that pilots from many airlines had come to the roadshow and Spanish pilots had shown a high level of interest.
“Until now, we have held roadshows in five countries but, as Turkish Airlines grows bigger, more roadshows are going to be organized,” he said.
Sensoy said that Turkish Airlines needed more pilots and the company was trying to hire them from many countries.
Turkish Airlines said it will increase its weekly flights from Barcelona to Istanbul from 21 to 28 as of May 25 this year.
The company aims to carry one million passengers in flights to Spain in 2015.
The company said it would recruit 600 more pilots in 2016 in a statement released on Monday.