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easyJet vs Norwegian Air Shuttle

A side-by-side comparison of pilot careers at easyJet (U2) and Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY) — covering salary, fleet, requirements, and more.

Airline selection starts with an aptitude battery

It screens you before a human reads your application. Sit a timed practice paper free — scored on pace, which is what actually culls candidates.

Take the free test

Which one fits you

Read from the numbers above rather than from opinion. Where the published data does not settle a question, it is left open instead of guessed.

Different countries, different right to work

easyJet hires into United Kingdom and Norwegian Air Shuttle into Norway. Before comparing anything else, check which one you can legally be employed in — residency and licence conversion decide more applications than flying ability does.

Whichever you pick, the gate is the same shape

Both run an aptitude battery before a human reads your CV, then a competency interview scored against the ICAO pilot competencies. We have a full pack for easyJet, and not for the other one yet.

Knowing what easyJet pays is the easy part. Getting through their selection is the part that decides whether you ever earn it.

Before a human reads your application there is an aptitude battery, and candidates consistently report it as the heaviest cull — pace, not difficulty. You can practise it here for free: timed papers generated fresh each run, plus a divided-attention drill that measures how much your performance degrades under load. And when you reach the interview, there are 100 easyJet-specific questions with model answers, the red flags that fail each one, and the follow-ups the panel actually asks.

Head-to-Head Comparison

easyJet
Norwegian Air Shuttle
Country
United Kingdom
Norway
Airline Type
Low-Cost Carrier
Low-Cost Carrier
IATA Code
U2
DY
Regulatory Authority
EASA
EASA
First Officer Salary
£45,000 - £80,000
NOK 450,000 - NOK 700,000
Captain Salary
£110,000 - £160,000
NOK 900,000 - NOK 1,300,000
Fleet
Airbus A319/320/321neo
Boeing 737 MAX

Requirements Comparison

easyJet

  • EASA/UK ATPL
  • Class 1 medical
  • Airbus type rating preferred
  • 250+ hours on type

Norwegian Air Shuttle

  • EASA ATPL
  • Class 1 medical
  • Boeing 737 type rating
  • Scandinavian language preferred

Pros & Cons

easyJet

Pros

  • +Faster career progression
  • +Simplified fleet — fewer type ratings needed

Cons

  • Higher workload with quick turnarounds
  • Type rating required before application

Norwegian Air Shuttle

Pros

  • +Faster career progression
  • +Simplified fleet — fewer type ratings needed

Cons

  • Higher workload with quick turnarounds
  • Local language proficiency preferred
  • Type rating required before application

About Each Airline

easyJet

Major European LCC with bases across the UK and Europe. All-Airbus fleet with good work-life balance for a low-cost carrier.

Full easyJet career guide →

Norwegian Air Shuttle

Scandinavia's largest low-cost carrier, operating short and medium-haul routes across Europe.

Full Norwegian Air Shuttle career guide →

Calculate Your Salary

Model your earning potential at easyJet or Norwegian Air Shuttle based on your experience, ratings, and career stage.

Salary Calculator

Test Your Knowledge

Study EASA theory questions with our free interactive quiz.

Practice Quiz