A monthly snapshot of direct-entry captain (DEC) openings we found advertised publicly, with the published hour minimums side by side. Checked 20 to 28 October 2026.
Verify on the official posting. Minimums, closing dates and conditions change, and some figures below come from job-board copies of the ad. The airline's own careers page is always the final word. Nothing here is affiliated with any airline.
The openings at a glance
| Airline | Role / type | Base | Total hours | Command / PIC | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riyadh Air | DEC B787 | Riyadh | 6,000 | 2,000 recent widebody command | ICAO English Level 5+ | >Official posting |
| Riyadh Air | DEC A321 | Riyadh | 5,000 | 1,500 Airbus command | >Official posting | |
| BA Cityflyer | DEC | London City | 4,000 | 1,500 PIC | Posted 22 Oct | >Job listing |
| SAS | DEC A320 | Copenhagen / Stockholm | 4,000 | 1,000 PIC on aircraft over 55 t; 2,000 h jet | Winter-ops experience | >Official posting |
| Scoot | DEC B787 | Singapore | 5,000 | 2,000 PIC multi-crew jet | Foreign ATPL needs conversion | >Job listing |
| Emerald Airlines | DEC ATR 72 | Dublin | See ad | See ad | Published 7 Oct; €140k–190k advertised | >Job listing |
| TUS Airways | DEC A320 | Cyprus | See ad | See ad | Closes 15 Nov | >Job listing |
What stands out this month
- Hours range from 4,000 to 6,000 total. The command requirement is the real filter: 1,000 to 2,000 hours PIC, sometimes on a specific category (widebody, Airbus, aircraft over 55 tonnes).
- Licences matter. Scoot, SAS and BA Cityflyer all set licence requirements for their own regulator. If you hold a licence from another authority, read converting your pilot licence to another authority before you apply.
- Processes are multi-stage. SAS, for example, lists CV, online interview, online tests, then assessment days with a group exercise, simulator and interview. See simulator assessment preparation and the direct-entry captain interview.
- A failed attempt has a cost. Several airlines publish a waiting period before you can reapply. We compare them in reapply cooldowns after a failed airline assessment.
Before you hit apply
- Check your hours against the exact wording: total, PIC, jet, type or weight category.
- Check the licence and medical requirements for that regulator.
- Read the closing date and the assessment stages.
- Decide whether you're ready now, or whether a few more weeks of preparation is worth it, given the reapply wait.
Next steps
- Take the free Airline Move Readiness Self-Check to see where you stand before you apply.
- Pre-order The Airline Move Playbook for a step-by-step plan for the application, technical interview and DEC interview.
- New to the process? Start with the direct-entry captain application.
Frequently asked questions
Where do these hour minimums come from?
From each airline's public job advertisement or a public job listing of it, checked on 20 to 28 October 2026. Minimums change and postings close, so always verify on the official posting before you apply.
Do I need to convert my licence for these jobs?
Often, yes. Several of these ads, including Scoot, SAS and BA Cityflyer, state licence requirements for their regulator. Read the licence conversion guide and check the airline's own guidance.
How often is this roundup updated?
Monthly. Each edition lists openings that were live when it was checked, with the date.
