Article from BTNews 3 SEPTEMBER 2018
Lauda – Ryanair celebration
Increased captain and first officer wage rates being paid by Laudamotion were published by the Austrian carrier last week as it celebrated the completion of Ryanair’s purchase of a 75% shareholding in the company from founder Niki Lauda.
The airline also said it would double its Airbus fleet from nine to 18 next summer and announced a series of initiatives to support its continued growth, including a new livery (see below) which reflects its Austrian heritage and new Vienna offices.
The new pay rates give a captain a basic starting pay of €90,000 a year, which Laudamotion pointed out was higher than Wizz Air’s €56,000, Level’s €72,000 and Eurowing's €78,000, rising to €180,000 including flight pay and allowances.
First officers can expect to earn a starting basic salary of €46,000, also higher than offered by the three rival airlines, rising to €70,0000 including flight pay. Laudamotion said it was also rolling out a stable winter roster of five days on, three days off.
CEO Andreas Gruber said: “Laudamotion now faces the future with great confidence, backed by the enormous financial strength of Ryanair, our new majority shareholder, having already achieved 90%-plus load factors in its first summer season.”
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