TNT to hire 100 additional pilots for European air network
TNT Express – the world’s leading business to business express delivery company – today announced that it will hire an additional 80 pilots during 2006, following the recruitment of an initial 20 in January, to fly new aircraft scheduled to enter service over the coming 16 months.
The pilots will join TNT Airways’ existing Liège-based aircrew of 284 to operate the additional two BAe 146, two B747-400 ERF and five B737 SF aircraft that are set to join the company’s airfleet by May 2007.
“Hiring 100 new pilots is essential to the expansion of the network. With the addition of new routes, the growing traffic on our current air routes and the increase in aircraft numbers, the quality of service to TNT’s global customer base will continue to improve,” said Niky Terzakis, Managing Director, TNT Airways.
In addition to the nine new aircraft – which will provide the airline with significantly enhanced capacity to transport greater volumes – the pilots will also fly aircraft in the current airfleet, which includes 11 BAe 146, six 737s and four A300 aircraft.
As the fleet expands, experienced pilots receive internal promotion and are replaced by younger equivalents on the BAe 146 aircraft, after they receive full training. This is conducted by TNT Airways’ fully approved flight training school which holds a TRTO (Type Rating Training Organisation) license and employs the use of flight simulators to replicate genuine flying experiences.
“TNT Airways has formulated a dedicated Pilot Career Development Policy which the company uses as the basis for thorough training of new and existing pilots. Whilst we encourage applications from young pilots, the company always strikes a balance between the recruitment of novices and their more experienced counterparts, as ongoing beginner training inevitably proves costly,” continued Mr Terzakis.
The addition of 100 new pilots co-incides with the introduction of three new B737-300 aircraft to TNT Airways fleet in April, May and December 2006, one of which is fitted with ‘quick-change’ capacity – enabling the aircraft to operate in both passenger and cargo formations. This option is in-line with the group objective to operate passenger flights from Liège for major tour operators from April 2006.
