In brief

Ryanair calls the programme a direct route to the cockpit: the training leads to a commercial pilot licence and a direct path to a job as a Ryanair pilot. You finish the training with what is known as a frozen ATPL, after which you are ready for the type rating with Ryanair. You do not apply through Ryanair itself: you apply directly to one of the partner schools.12

The partner schools

Ryanair says that only the partners on its own site are approved by the Ryanair Training Department. Airline Flight Academy (AFA): Dublin, Ireland. Provides the APS MCC course within the programme. Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA): Cork, Ireland. Provides the integrated ab initio route, Gateway 1 and the APS MCC. Astonfly: Paris, France. Provides the integrated ab initio route and Gateway 1. Aviomar: Rome and Parma, Italy. Provides the integrated ab initio route, Gateway 1 and the APS MCC. Bartolini Air: Łódź, Poland. Provides the integrated ab initio route and Gateway 1. Skyborne: Cheltenham and Bournemouth, United Kingdom. Provides the integrated ab initio route, Gateway 1 and the APS MCC.1

Three entry routes

At Bartolini Air, the integrated route takes 18 to 24 months full time and Gateway 1 about 4 months. At Skyborne, the integrated route starts with 28 weeks of theory in Bournemouth, followed by 27 weeks of single-engine flight training up to CPL in Vero Beach (Florida), 9.5 weeks of multi-engine IR training, half a week of advanced UPRT and 3 weeks of APS MCC. The Ryanair-mentored APS MCC at AFA consists of 16 hours of computer-based training, 40 hours of classroom theory and 40 hours of simulator training on a Boeing 737 MAX simulator, plus 20 hours of briefing and debriefing. Gateway 0: integrated ab initio: A full-time course from zero to pilot, with no previous flying experience. According to Ryanair it can be completed in 16 months or more. Gateway 1: modular: For PPL holders with 100 hours as pilot in command who have already passed their EASA ATPL theoretical knowledge exams; they complete a Ryanair-mentored MEP/CPL, ME/IR, AUPRT and APS MCC. Gateway 2: APS MCC: For holders of a frozen ATPL, CPL and ME/IR who only need the Airline Pilot Standard Multi-Crew Cooperation course.1234

Selection

For the integrated route and Gateway 1, you first take the flight school's online psychometric and aptitude tests at home. This is followed by an assessment day at a partner school with tests in mathematics and physics, an English language test for non-native speakers, group exercises and an individual interview. Skyborne uses the Aon assessment tool for the online tests, followed by a competency-based online interview about your motivation to fly for Ryanair. At the end of the training comes the Ryanair final assessment. If you do fail the final assessment, the head of training at your school receives detailed feedback and, after approval, extra training can follow for a second attempt. Astonfly reports that Ryanair sets requirements during training, such as an average of at least 85 percent for the ATPL theory, a maximum of 4 failed theory attempts in total and passing the CPL and IR exams at the first attempt.135

Requirements

The programme is open to holders of a UK or EU/EEA passport with the unrestricted right to live and work in Europe or the UK. Skyborne requires you to be at least 18 on the first day of training, to speak and write fluent English and to hold a valid Class 1 medical before the start. The exact entry requirements differ per school: Ryanair refers to the minimum requirements on the flight school's site. For the step to Ryanair you need, among other things, an EASA frozen ATPL, a Class 1 medical under EU Part-MED, a multi-engine instrument rating, AUPRT, English at ICAO level 4 or higher and a signed training report from your school. Ryanair only accepts an APS MCC certificate: a standard MCC or MCC/JOC is no longer accepted.1367

Costs

On the integrated route and Gateway 1, the Boeing 737 type rating is part of the programme, but it falls under a training cost agreement with Ryanair. Anyone entering via AFA outside the Future Flyer route pays €30,000 upfront for the type rating and €350 in assessment fees; cadets from the integrated route, Gateway 1 and the UK scheme are exempt from this. Bartolini Air, integrated (EU): €83,990 for the integrated frozen ATPL course including AUPRT and APS MCC. Bartolini Air, Gateway 1 (EU): €51,990. Skyborne, integrated (UK): £131,400, payable in instalments: a non-refundable deposit of £15,000 followed by five instalments of £23,280. Gateway 2: APS MCC at AFA: €5,995.12348

After the training

If you pass the final assessment, you get a place on a Boeing 737 type rating and, after base training, fly as a first officer with passengers. The type rating consists of a six-day introduction course, ground school, 12 sessions in a fixed-base simulator and 7 in a full flight simulator, followed by circuits in a real Boeing 737-800 and line training from one of the bases. A job is not guaranteed: Aviomar states explicitly that the course does not guarantee success in the Ryanair final assessment and that you are not a Ryanair employee during training. Ryanair cites a path to captain within 4 years through the Route to Command programme, and a fixed roster of 5 days on and 4 days off. Bartolini Air offers a UK variant at a lower price for those willing to fly for Ryanair from the UK for at least 5 years.12710

EU cadets and training language

As an EU national, you fall under the EU variant of the programme, with a type rating under the training cost agreement, without deductions from your salary, and a conditional job offer on enrolment. The training is given in English, including at Astonfly in France.25

Frequently asked questions

Does the Ryanair Future Flyer Academy still exist in 2026?: Yes. Ryanair lists the programme on its careers site and five partner schools offer the integrated route in October 2026. Is the Future Flyer Academy the same as the Ryanair Mentored Programme?: Yes, the Future Flyer Academy is the new name of the Ryanair Mentored Programme. Do you get a job guarantee with Ryanair?: No. Ryanair says you get a conditional job offer on enrolment and a guaranteed final assessment. Only if you pass it do you get a place on the type rating. Do you have to pay for the type rating yourself?: Not upfront on the integrated route and Gateway 1: Skyborne speaks of a bonded Boeing 737 type rating with no upfront cost, under a training cost agreement.111