Guernsey's airline Aurigny takes on six new First Officers

Thursday, 11 December 2025 12:40

Recruits are the first to come from a partnership between a flying academy, Norse Atlantic and Aurigny.

There is a world wide shortage of commercial pilots and there has been since the pandemic, which saw many take early retirement as demand for flights faded.

To counter this, Aurigny and budget trans-Atlantic airline Norse Atlantic have teamed up with the Oxford based Leading Edge Airline Preparation (LEAP) programme to ensure a pipeline of talent for both airlines into the future.

The six cadets will fly with Aurigny for around two years as First Officers before joining Norse to learn how to fly its fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Philip Smallwood, Aurigny's Chief Operating Officer, says it is rewarding to see the programme come to life:

“Welcoming our first six cadets through the Leading Edge programme is a fantastic milestone for Aurigny and for the future of the industry in Guernsey.

"It ensures a long-term, high-quality source of flight crew for our island’s air services while helping to inspire the next generation of pilots.”

The CEO of Leading Edge Aviation, Andy McFarlane, says it is a fast track route for recruits:

“To get to a Dreamliner, or any other long-haul aircraft, can take five or six years with most airlines.

"Typically, pilots will spend several years on short-haul fleets before moving across but with this programme, these cadets are as much as three years ahead of everyone else, which is a truly remarkable advantage.”

Kian Le Mottee is a new Aurigny cadet and says he can't wait to build up his hours:

“I think the opportunity to develop my skills as a pilot, flying in the challenging conditions in Guernsey, as well as the opportunity to progress onwards to a huge airline with opportunity for expansion, is perfect for me.”