Emirates has announced that it aims to recruit around 5,000 new cabin crew employees in 2024. The new joiners are set to boost the carrier’s existing cabin crew complement by a whopping 25%.
With the airline preparing for the arrival of its first A350 widebodied long-haul aircraft in mid-2024, Emirates is undertaking a global cabin crew recruitment drive. According to the carrier, “The 5,000 new joiners will ensure the airline’s commitment to offering the world’s best inflight experience maintains a steady course.”
The worldwide recruitment drive being launched by the Dubai-based airline is designed primarily for those who will soon or have recently stepped into the world of work. The airline is seeking primarily fresh graduates with internships or part-time jobs on their résumés, those with a year or so of hospitality or customer service experience, and individuals keen to embark on a career involving extensive travel opportunities.
The airline states that “the new recruits will be a part of the world’s largest international airline and one of the most iconic brands, plus they will learn hospitality and life skills from the best trainers in the business. What’s more, they will travel the world across more than 140 cities in 76 countries and enjoy the entire gamut of benefits working as Emirates’ cabin crew,” the airline adds.
To achieve its goal, Emirates’ cabin crew recruitment team will be hosting open days and assessments in over 460 cities across six continents in 2024. The recruitment drive reflects the global span of the airline’s network and the diversity of its cabin crew team. All recruits will be based at the company’s headquarters in Dubai.
In 2023, Emirates hired a staggering 8,000 cabin crew and held recruitment events in 353 cities as the airline ramped up its services post-pandemic. In August 2023, the airline’s cabin crew numbers crossed the 20,000 threshold and now number over 21,500 individuals. Emirates’ multicultural cabin crew team hails from more than 140 nationalities and speaks a staggering 130 different languages.
All new cabin crew recruits undergo eight weeks of training focusing on hospitality, safety, and service. Trained in Emirates’ state-of-the-art training facilities in Dubai, cabin crew learn a range of skills including communications, initiative, and leadership qualities. They also “develop the ability to work effectively in a multicultural team and develop their skills at keeping strong (mentally and physically) and calm under pressure,” states the airline.
The new cabin crew recruitment drive comes as Emirates begins to take delivery of its first A350s from mid-year and the Boeing 777-Xs starting in 2025. The airline currently has 65 A350s and a mix of 205 777-9s and 777-8s in its order book. The new aircraft will expand the airline’s reach and provide flexibility to add new routes to its network.