AIRLINE
   ROSTERS
   & LEAVE

Moving to a job in the airline industry means disrupted working patterns and always getting a 'weekend off' becomes a thing of the past, hence an idea of your roster can be beneficial.  On the plus side the overall amount of time off (especially over the winter for short haul charter type airlines) can be rewarding.  Listed below are the typical working schedules you can expect from each featured airline (when known). You will also see the amount of annual leave available.

Note that easyJet were one of the first companies to trial a Fatigue Risk Management Scheme (FRMS) and came out with a pattern of 5,3,5,4. See below. Knowing your days off in advance with this fixed roster is a great advantage. The authorities have now stipulated that all airlines will need to carry out similar programs, therefore there are likely to be changes to roster patterns in the future. Management will try and work their pilots as close to the limit as possible, however CAP371 applies in the UK. You must not exceed these limitations.

If you can help add information to this list please contact us. Updated in 2008.
 

Aer Arann	29 days leave per annum
Aer Lingus	34 days leave increasing to 46 with length of service and rank, taken in blocks of 5 with 2 wrap around days. Minimum 9 days off per 28 days. Rostering is complex – agreed with IALPA. 1800 finish before day off. 0900 start after day off.
Air Southwest	6 weeks leave. FTL scheme for days off. No rostering agreement.
Astraeus Flystar	30 days annual leave.
Atlantic Airlines	Captains 5 weeks leave, First Officers 4 weeks. Days off in accordance with FTL scheme. Minimum 8 days in any 28 day period.
Aurigny Air	Leave 20 days plus 8 days for public holidays. Rostering flexible and days off varied.
bmibaby	Annual leave entitlement 45 days. 3 leave periods - 2 weeks in each. 10 days off per 4 weeks. Rostering agreement; must finish before 1800 before day off in order to start at 0600 after, otherwise 0900 start after days off
bmi Regional	Annual leave entitlement 38 days inclusive of Public Holidays. Summer 3 weeks, winter 2 weeks. Days off per 4 weeks 8 minimum, per 12 weeks 24 minimum. Rostering agreement in place.
British Airways	4 weeks contractual leave plus 2 weeks duty free leave which can be used for overtime flying. Days off depends on bid-line process and fleets. Rostering agreement is complicated but well monitored. Bid for trips each months and obtaining your choice is dependent on seniority.
Cathay Pacific	Annual leave entitlement 42 days (FO) 21 days (Second Officer). Per year 102 days off is a minimum. Assigned rosters with request system for days off.
Cathay Pacific Freight	Annual leave entitlement 6 weeks (days off usually attached – and can be requested). Guaranteed 7 days per month at home base (normally works out to be more than this amount).
DHL Air	42 days leave and no rostering agreement.
Dragonair	42 days leave increasing linearly to 48 maximum after 10 years service.
Eastern Airways	28 days leave plus 8 statutory. Normally 8 days off per 4 weeks. No rostering agreement.
easyJet	Annual leave entitlement 20 days plus 8 for Public Holidays. Days off as per CAP371. Fixed roster of 5 early duties, 3 days off, 5 late duties , 4 off. See note at top of this page on FRMS.
Emirates	Annual leave entitlement 42 days, with 1 return ticket. 8 days off in 28 averaged over 3 x 28 day periods.  CAP371 duty time limits. Flight time can average more than 80 hours per month.
First Choice (TUI Group)	37 days leave per annum. Summer 16 days, winter 21 days or 47 days if no summer leave taken. Days off per 4 weeks 7, per 12 weeks 24. Rostered to legal maximum of 900 hours per year. Scheduling agreement in place.
Flightline	Annual leave entitlement 20 days, plus 8 public holidays. Days off per 4 weeks 8, per 12 weeks about 30. No rostering agreement in place.
Flybe	Annual leave entitlement 28 days, rising to 33 after 5 years. 8 days off per 4 weeks, 28 per 12 weeks. BALPA negotiated scheduling agreement.
Flyglobespan	30 days leave (PAYE staff), 15 days (Contracted staff) per year. No rostering agreement currently available.
Gulf Air	Leave entitlement 52 days, summer 26, winter 26. Days off per 4 weeks 8, per 12 weeks 24. Rostering operates to DGCA flight time limitations.
Highland Airways	28 days leave, random days off, no rostering agreement.
Jet2.com	Annual leave entitlement of 36 days plus 12 requested days. Days off per 4 weeks 8-10, pPer 12 weeks approximately 30. Maximum of 5 night flights per week but only 3 if duty is longer than 8 hours.
Loganair	Annual leave entitlement 37 days inclusive of statutory holidays. 4 wrap around days usually given for 5 day block plus extra 7 days after 5 years employment. Compassionate leave - up to 3 consecutive days. Days off and roster as per CAP 371.
Monarch	37 days leave per annum. 2 weeks in summer, 3 weeks and 2 days in winter. 9/28 becoming 10/28 with effect from Nov 2008. Day off definition: - finish 20/2100 day before and start 08/0900 day after respectively. At least 8 in 28 rostered in blocks of 2 or more. Requested days off system on first come first serve basis. Basic Rostering Agreement.  Maximum of 2 consecutive night flights.  Duty periods over 16 hours limited to “operational necessity”.  Roster disruption windows; requires 4 violations to earn an extra day off.  Ring fencing of up to 2 duties per 28 days.  Flexi day off working to be introduced winter 2007/8. CAP 371 applies to the rest of the pattern.
Qatar Airways	42 days leave per year. 5 days on, 3 days off rostering.
Ryanair	Annual leave entitlement 20 days plus 9 for Public holidays. Days off per 4 weeks 11. Typical roster is 5 earlies, 3 days off, 5 lates 3 off repeated. The Irish authorities stipulate different rules for flight time limitations compared to UK.
ScotAirways	Annual leave entitlement 21 days plus PH. This rises to 30 days after 6 years employment. Days off and roster as per CAP371. About 700 hours per year flown on average.(8/900 hours at Dundee)
Singapore Airlines	42 days leave per annum.
SkyEurope	Rosters published on 20th of the month for the next month. Requests can be made by 5th of the month.
Thomas Cook	42 days leave per annum. Summer 14, winter 28. Minimum of 7 days off per 4 weeks. Roster as per CAP371
Thomsonfly (TUI)	6 weeks. May - Oct 2 weeks. Winter 4 weeks. 14-day blocks with 2 wrap around days. 5 guaranteed week ends off (Sat – Mon). Gold and Silver requested days off.
Titan Airways	Annual leave entitlement 29 days plus 18 days credited. Requested day off system. 6/3 roster when possible.
TNT Airways	30 days leave per annum. Days off 176 per year (including leave, min 13 per month). Roster equated to a maximum of 8 days on, minimum of 3 days off
Virgin Atlantic	5 weeks leave per annum plus 1 day per year service up to 5. Days off per 4 weeks 10, per 12 weeks 52. Complex scheduling agreement to protect 160 days per annum free of duty. 10 days per month guaranteed at base.

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