Applications for the 2024 MPL Programme have now closed. The role will re-open in January 2025.
Embarking upon the 19-month TUI Airline Multi-Crew Pilot Licence (MPL) Cadet Programme is an exciting opportunity for those with little, or no, flying experience. You’ll complete your training and eventually join TUI as a Cadet Pilot flying the Boeing 737.
What we’re looking for
We’re looking for candidates to be committed, resilient and hard-working, and will be rewarded with a dynamic and exciting career where each day is different. Together with your colleagues, you’ll make sure that TUI customers have the best experience whilst travelling to and from their holiday helping them to ‘Live Happy’.
We’re looking for people with great communication and leadership skills, the ability to remain calm under pressure, resilience to work hard throughout a challenging course, motivation to learn and ultimately develop into highly skilled professional pilots.
Eligibility
In order to apply for our MPL Cadet Programme, there are a few requirements that need to be met:
• Be at least 18 years of age on or before 1st September 2025
• Have at least five GCSEs including Maths, English and a Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or combined Science). Maths must be grade B/6 or above and the others grade C/4 or above, or equivalent qualifications. To view equivalent qualifications, please click here.
• Be fluent in English (verbal and written)
• Be eligible to live and work indefinitely in the UK without additional approvals
• Hold a valid passport which permits unrestricted worldwide travel
• Be at least 1.58m (5ft 2in) tall
• Able to swim 25m
• Able to meet the requirements for the issue of a CAA Class 1 medical – click here for more information
• Before commencing training, complete referencing and pre-employment checks required for the issue of an airport security ID
*Please see FAQs for more information on equivalent qualifications
Course Information
The training for the MPL Cadet Programme begins with a theoretical training phase which is where you’ll study the required theoretical knowledge and complete the 13 ATPL exams.
ATPL Theoretical Knowledge
Duration – 750 hours/6.5 months
Location – A combination of remote Computer-Based Training (CBT), virtual classroom learning (from your home location), and in-person classroom learning. You’ll also complete some observation flights from your local airport during this period.
Following on from the theoretical training phase, you will complete 4 practical training phases:
Phase 1 – Core Flying Skills
Basic single pilot flying training will be in a Diamond DA40 aircraft and you’ll complete approximately 65 hours of flying. During this phase, you’ll also complete Upset Prevention & Recovery Training (UPRT) on an advanced trainer aircraft.
Duration – Approximately 4 months
Location – Training will be placed within a TUI approved training facility.
Phase 2 – Basic Introduction of Multi-Crew Operations & Instrument Flying
This phase will take place in a B737 fixed base simulator. You’ll complete approximately 144 hours in the simulator, and learn about instrument flying in a multi-crew environment.
Duration – Approximately 5 months
Location – Training will be placed within a TUI approved training facility.
Phase 3 – Intermediate Flying Training
This will take place in a B737 full flight simulator where you’ll operate in a multi-crew environment using TUI procedures. You’ll complete approximately 16 hours in the simulator before moving onto the advanced phase.
Duration – Approximately 3 months
Location – Training will be placed within a TUI approved training facility.
Phase 4 – Advanced Flying Training
This phase consists of the final elements of the B737 Type Rating, including approximately 20 hours on a full flight simulator and completion of circuit training on the B737.
Duration – Approximately 3 months
Location – Training will be placed within a TUI approved training facility.
Funding
The MPL Cadet Programme includes the following:
• All course and training costs
• All upfront training and licence fees
• Accommodation when required to be away from home during practical phases 1-4
• Uniform
• ATPL theory exam fees
• All required equipment such as manuals, iPad etc.
• Initial Class 1 medical
• Class 1 medical renewals
The following expenses are not included, and the student pilot is responsible for them:
• Personal travel
• Food and personal living expenses
Upon completion of training and joining TUI as a Cadet Pilot, you’ll be paid a Cadet Pilot salary for four years, which will include repayment of training costs to TUI. This salary is currently £34,938 (post deduction) and will increase in line with pilot pay scheduling agreements. Further details will be provided at the Assessment Centre should you be successful. For further details of career progression, please read the FAQs at the bottom of the page.
Assessment Process
The assessment process is split into five stages, and you’ll be required to pass each stage in order to proceed to the next one:
Stage One
The first stage of the assessment process is submitting your application along with your CV. Your application will be reviewed by our recruitment team, and if you meet the criteria, you’ll be invited to complete online assessments.
Stage Two
This stage is a questionnaire and online assessments. The assessments include verbal, numerical, and logical reasoning tests. You’ll have five days to complete them. No additional time to complete them will be given. If you pass the online assessments, you will automatically proceed to stage three.
Stage Three
The next stage is a one-way digital interview where you’ll be asked to record yourself answering a series of questions. You’ll have five days to complete this stage. No additional time will be given to complete this. Your interview will then be reviewed by our recruitment team, and you can expect to hear the outcome of this by the end of March 2025.
Stage Four
This will be an assessment day at our UK TUI Training Centre, where you’ll complete a series of exercises followed by an individual interview with members of our recruitment team. This will be held mid-April.
Stage Five
This stage is a flying test with our TUI Airline Training teams. This will be in a UK-based simulator where your flying aptitude will be assessed. No previous flying experience will be necessary. This will be held at the beginning of May.
Recruitment Process
• Applications close 31st January 2025
• Outcome of digital interview issued via email by the end of March 2025
• Assessment centre held at East Midlands Airport mid-April 2025
• Simulator Assessments held in London Gatwick at the beginning of May 2025
• Final outcome issued June 2025
FAQs
You need to have at least five GCSEs including Maths, English and a Science, or equivalent qualifications. Maths must be grade B/6 or above and the others grade C/4 or above. To view equivalent qualifications, please click here.
Yes, if successfully invited to an assessment centre, you will need to bring proof of academic qualifications which need to be in English.
Yes, a degree in any field supersedes the GCSE requirements so you may submit an application.
As we are not able to sponsor or support any visa applications, we cannot accept job applications from individuals who either currently hold, or are applying for, a UK visa with an expiry date. Your immigration status must prove that you are able to live and work in the UK indefinitely. If you hold Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK as an immigration category or you hold Pre-Settled Status then we can accept your job application.
No, a cover letter is not required.
No previous flight training or experience is necessary.
Yes, you can still apply if you hold a PPL but you must not have more than 100 hours or hold any additional ratings such as a night rating, instrument rating or instructor rating.
No, this programme is designed for those who have none, or very little flying experience.
If you have commenced an integrated ATPL course or have attempted any theoretical exams required for the issue of a Commercial Pilot Licence or Airline Transport Pilot Licence (regardless of the result) you will not be accepted on the TUI UK MPL Scheme.
You must be at least 18 years of age on or before 1st September 2025. If you are 17, you may still submit an application so long as you are 18 on or before 1st September 2025.
The assessment centre is planned for mid-April 2025 and simulator assessments planned for early-May 2025. These will be the only dates available.
Accommodation will be provided when you are required to be away from home during practical phases 1-4.
Yes, you must stay at the training location when you are training.
The course start date is in early September 2025.
No, this is the only course in 2025.
Yes, there will be courses on an annual basis.
No, if successful, you will be offered a 2025 course start date.
The course will take approximately 19 months to complete.
The training course is full time, and you will have rostered days off. We are unable to give leave for holidays or other events.
The ground school is mostly self-study and virtual classroom from your own home. You will be required to attend classroom training for one week every 6 weeks. The flying and simulator training will take place within a TUI approved training facility.
Training costs are not required to be paid prior to or during training. Upon completion of training and joining TUI as a Cadet Pilot, you’ll be paid a cadet salary for four years. This salary is currently £34,938 and will increase in line with pilot pay scheduling agreements.
No, you will not receive a salary or allowances whilst training.
The training is full time, and it will be necessary to study in your own time outside of this, therefore we strongly recommend against working alongside your training.
You’ll be issued with a conditional offer of employment with TUI Airways on commencement of your course; however, you’ll be required to complete your training to the required standard in order to proceed with a career as a cadet entry pilot at TUI.
Yes, there is a bond to cover the cost of your training. If you leave within the first four years of employment as a pilot, you will be liable to pay back some, or all of your training costs. Further details about this will be given as the assessment centre should you receive an invite.
You will be issued with a Multi-Pilot Licence (MPL) and this will enable you to operate a Boeing 737 acting as co-pilot in an aeroplane required to be operated with a co-pilot for commercial air transport.
An MPL can be upgraded to an ATPL providing the licence holder is at least 21 years old and has a minimum of 1500 hours flying time.
You’ll be advised of your UK base towards the end of your training. Base preferences will be taken into account but cannot be guaranteed.
Yes, all MPL cadets will be issued with a uniform that is provided by TUI.
If your tattoo could be deemed offensive in any way, it must be covered. All neck, throat and face tattoos regardless of location and size need to be covered.
We are currently reviewing all digital interviews so you can expect to hear from us as soon as a few days following completion, but no later than the end of March 2025.
If you have completed your assessments, rest assured we have received them, and they will be reviewed within the given timelines.
Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications we are unable to give individual feedback. You can resubmit an application next year.
We cannot give individual feedback but click here some helpful tips.
If you’re experiencing technical issues with your online assessments, you should firstly review our technical help page by clicking here.
Please click here to find some practice tests.
Please ensure that you read the information on this page thoroughly and if you need to ask a question that’s not already answered, you can contact us here and a member of the Pilot Recruitment team will respond to you. We would ask that you don’t contact individual TUI employees via social media platforms such as LinkedIn.