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Norwegian Air Shuttle vs Ryanair

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

Head-to-Head Comparison

Norwegian Air Shuttle
Ryanair
Country
Norway
Ireland
Airline Type
Low-Cost Carrier
Low-Cost Carrier
IATA Code
DY
FR
Regulatory Authority
EASA
EASA
First Officer Salary
NOK 450,000 - NOK 700,000
€35,000 - €70,000
Captain Salary
NOK 900,000 - NOK 1,300,000
€120,000 - €180,000
Fleet
Boeing 737 MAX
Boeing 737 (all variants)

Requirements Comparison

Norwegian Air Shuttle

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

Ryanair

  • EASA frozen ATPL
  • Class 1 medical
  • Boeing 737 type rating
  • EU right to work

Pros & Cons

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

Ryanair

Pros

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

Cons

  • Higher workload with quick turnarounds
  • Lower starting FO salary compared to US/Gulf carriers
  • Type rating required before application

About Each Airline

Norwegian Air Shuttle

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

Full Norwegian Air Shuttle career guide →

Ryanair

Europe's largest airline by passenger numbers. Single-type Boeing 737 fleet with bases across Europe. Known for rapid career progression.

Full Ryanair career guide →

Calculate Your Salary

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

Salary Calculator

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