Lufthansa Pilot Recruitment 2026
Hiring status, requirements, selection steps and the path to the seat. Requirements checked against Lufthansa's official careers pages on .
Is Lufthansa hiring pilots in 2026?
Yes. Lufthansa is recruiting pilots, according to its official careers pages as of August 22, 2026. Flight time: Not published on any Lufthansa Group source we could reach. Any specific hour figure quoted for Lufthansa today is unsourced. Low-hour route: the European Flight Academy (EFA).
Lufthansa screens with an aptitude battery before a human reads your application.
Sit a timed practice paper free — no account. Scored on pace as well as accuracy, because pace is what the real battery culls on.
Where are you with Lufthansa?
Selection runs on its own timetable, and what helps depends entirely on where you are in it. Tell us, and what we send you matches that — nothing else.
| Hiring status | Active— applications open |
|---|---|
| Country / Region | Germany · Europe |
| Bases | 5 bases · FRA, MUC, ZRH, VIE, BRU |
| Fleet types | A319/320/321, A330-300, A340-300/600, A350-900 +3 more |
| Contract type | Permanent employment (German labor law) |
| Type ratings accepted | A320, A340, A350, A380, B747, B777, B787 |
| Assessment stages | 4 stages · 5-step pipeline |
Lufthansa pilot requirements
As published on Lufthansa's official careers pages, checked August 22, 2026.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where Lufthansa sends candidates | Lufthansa Group's careers site does not publish pilot criteria itself. Its pilot entry pages return 404 and refer candidates to be-lufthansa.com. |
| Status of that pointer (checked 22 Aug 2026) | be-lufthansa.com does not resolve. It has no DNS A record and no CNAME on either the Cloudflare or the Google public resolver, and www.be-lufthansa.com returns NXDOMAIN. Anyone following Lufthansa's own published link reaches nothing. |
| What this does NOT mean | A dead pointer is not evidence that hiring is closed. Lufthansa Group recruits across several airlines and may have moved its pilot recruitment to a portal we could not identify. Contact Lufthansa directly before concluding anything about the state of hiring. |
| Licence and medical | EASA licence appropriate to the operating carrier, and an EASA Class 1 medical |
| Selection | Lufthansa Group has long used the DLR (German Aerospace Center) aptitude selection for its cockpit intake. We could not confirm from a live Lufthansa source what the current process or its thresholds are, so we are not stating them as current. |
| Flight time | Not published on any Lufthansa Group source we could reach. Any specific hour figure quoted for Lufthansa today is unsourced. |
What the job pays
Estimate — not yet verified against the pilot contract. Full Lufthansa pay table, by year and aircraft
The full table with every figure is on the Lufthansa salary page.
From student pilot to Lufthansa Captain
Shown for the EASA system most non-US airlines recruit from; other authorities are similar. Hour figures are regulatory minimums, time ranges are typical.
Step 1
Class 1 medical + theory
First month EASA Part-MED / Part-FCLBook the Class 1 medical before paying any school. Then ATPL theory: 13 subjects under the EASA syllabus (other authorities differ).
Try free private-pilot theory questions (FAA format)Step 2
CPL / IR / multi-engine training
≈ 200 h (EASA integrated minimum 195 h) 18–24 months integrated EASA FCL Appendix 3Integrated course in one go, or modular (PPL first, then hour building, CPL, IR). Ends with multi-crew (MCC/APS) training.
Step 3
Type rating (A320 / 737)
Simulator + base training 2–3 monthsPaid by the airline in some cadet or direct-entry schemes, self-funded in others — check the specific vacancy.
Step 4
Lufthansa First Officer
See the requirements aboveLow-hour pilots usually join with a frozen ATPL.
Step 5
Full ATPL (unfrozen)
1,500 h incl. 500 h multi-pilot 3–4 years of line flying EASA FCL.510.AThe licence you need to be pilot-in-command of a multi-pilot airliner.
Step 6
Lufthansa Captain
Command course Depends on seniority and growthUpgrade criteria (hours, time in seat, assessment) are set by each airline.
How to Apply: Lufthansa Pilot Application Process
The Lufthansa pilot selection process step by step, as the airline describes it (checked August 22, 2026). Where the airline does not publish a stage, we say so.
- 1
Online Application
2-4 weeksApply through Lufthansa Group Pilot Careers portal.
- 2
DLR Test (BU/FQ)
2-3 daysMulti-day assessment at DLR (German Aerospace Center) in Hamburg covering cognitive, psychomotor, and group tests.
- 3
Simulator Assessment
1 dayFull-motion sim evaluation at Lufthansa Aviation Training.
- 4
Final Interview
Half dayInterview with flight operations management.
- 5
Training
8-12 weeksType rating at Lufthansa Aviation Training.
Assessment Stages: What Lufthansa Tests
1. DLR BU (Basic Qualification)
First selection stage at DLR Hamburg testing cognitive ability, concentration, multi-tasking, English, physics, and mathematics. One of the toughest airline selection tests globally.
Preparation Tips
- Practice DLR-specific preparation materials
- Study physics and mathematics thoroughly
- Train concentration and multi-tasking for weeks beforehand
2. DLR FQ (Flight Qualification)
Second DLR stage testing psychomotor coordination, group dynamics, and interview. Includes SAGAT tests and group exercises.
Preparation Tips
- Practice hand-eye coordination exercises
- Show balanced leadership in group work
- Be honest and consistent in psychological interviews
3. Simulator Assessment
Full-motion A320 or B737 sim ride at Lufthansa Aviation Training.
Preparation Tips
- Practice raw-data flying
- Show excellent CRM
- Stay calm under pressure - precision matters
4. Management Interview
Final interview with senior flight ops management.
Preparation Tips
- Know Lufthansa Group structure thoroughly
- Discuss career commitment and flexibility
- Show cultural awareness and German work ethic values
Lufthansa Pilot Interview Questions
Typical questions in airline pilot panel and HR interviews, including at Lufthansa. Prepare STAR-format answers (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and 8-10 real aviation stories.
- Q1
Why Lufthansa Group?
- Q2
How do you see your career developing?
- Q3
Describe handling an emergency.
- Q4
What do you know about Lufthansa operations?
- Q5
How do you approach CRM?
- Q6
Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned.
- Q7
How would you handle a disagreement with a more senior captain?
Fleet You Could Fly at Lufthansa
7 aircraft types currently operated
Type ratings accepted at application
Holding one of these ratings can accelerate the hiring pipeline.
Lufthansa Pilot Bases (5)
Available pilot bases — bid by seniority
Cadet Program (No Experience Required)
European Flight Academy (EFA)
Lufthansa Group ab-initio training programme. Integrated ATPL course in Bremen/Phoenix with guaranteed position at a Lufthansa Group airline upon completion.
Read full cadet program guide →
Insider Tips for Lufthansa Applicants
DLR test is extremely competitive - only 5-10% pass rate
European Flight Academy offers ab-initio training
Lufthansa Group includes Swiss, Austrian, Brussels, Eurowings
Excellent job security under German labor law
Premium widebody flying opportunities on A380 and B747
Knowing the Lufthansa process is step one. Being ready for the stages that actually cut people is step two.
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.
Already past the paperwork and preparing for the panel? , scored against the answers a panel is listening for. Seven days of access, no subscription.
No Lufthansa pack yet — want it built?
We will not pretend to have one. We build the next pack for the airline that gets asked for most, so leaving your address here is a vote. No sequence, one email when it ships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lufthansa hiring pilots in 2026?
What are the minimum requirements to fly for Lufthansa?
What is the Lufthansa pilot selection process?
What aircraft does Lufthansa fly?
Where are Lufthansa pilot bases?
Does Lufthansa have a cadet pilot program?
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