SAS · Captain / Commandant de bord
Direct Entry Captain A320 - Copenhagen and Stockholm bases
SAS is recruiting experienced A320 captains through direct entry for its Copenhagen and Stockholm bases. The role targets ATPL-qualified pilots with substantial jet or fast turboprop experience, as part of the airline's Airbus fleet expansion.
- Employer
- SAS
- Position
- Captain / Commandant de bord
- Base
- Copenhague et Stockholm
- Aircraft
- A320
- Contract
- CDI, choix entre temps plein (100%) ou temps partiel flexible (83,3%)
- Pay (public sources)
- First officer on joining: about DKK 37,900 to 44,300 gross per month (or NOK 40,900 to 47,800, SEK 38,600 to 45,200); captain: scale not published (2026)
- Seen
- 8 October 2026
Key points
- Bases in Copenhagen and Stockholm
- Captain position on the A320
- Choice between a 100% full-time contract or a flexible 83.3% part-time contract
- The 83.3% contract follows a seasonal pattern, with full rostering in summer and December and 50-75% the rest of the year
- Employment expected to start between autumn 2026 and spring 2027
- Security interview and drug/alcohol testing must take place in Copenhagen
What the employer asks for
- Unrestricted EASA ATPL(A), or EASA CPL(A)/MPL (non-Scandinavian licences accepted but must be converted before course start)
- Valid Class 1 medical certificate
- Valid instrument rating
- ICAO English level 5 or 6
- Unrestricted right to live and work in the EU
- Clean criminal record
- 4,000+ total flight hours
- 2,000+ hours on jet aircraft or high-speed turboprops
- 1,000+ hours as PIC on aircraft above 55 tonnes MTOW
- Experience with winter operations
What the employer offers
- Permanent contract
- Starting salary depending on contract type (100% or 83.3%)
- Competitive salary progression
- Fully funded type rating with a 3-year bond
- Additional allowances
- Pension scheme
- Insurance benefits
- Flexible roster with mixed pattern
- Minimum 11 days off per month
- 42 days of annual leave
- Worldwide staff travel benefits
- Career progression opportunities to A330/A350 or into training and management roles
The selection process
- CV screening
- Online interview with a recruiter
- Online cognitive and personality tests
- Assessment days: group exercises, simulator session, personal interview
- Final checks: background screening, security interview, drug and alcohol testing
Summary written by ForAllPilots from the employer's posting. Only the official posting counts: check every condition before you apply.
Scandinavian flag carrier
SAS at a glance
Scandinavian airline (Denmark, Norway, Sweden) based in Stockholm, with its three hubs at Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm-Arlanda, a member of SkyTeam since 1 September 2024 and 19.9% owned by the Air France-KLM group.
- Bases
- Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm-Arlanda
- Fleet
- Airbus A319/A320/A320neo/A321LR, A330-300, A350-900; Embraer E195 (SAS Link)
Pilot recruitment
Recruits qualified pilots (first officers and captains), with permanent employment and a seniority-based system according to its careers page. The group operates under three air operator certificates (SAS, SAS Connect, SAS Link) and five bases across Scandinavia and Europe; check open positions and the recruitment process on the careers site.
Pay and conditions, from public sources
Figures published by the airline, pilot unions or the press, each one dated (last update: October 2026). For information only.
- First officer without type rating and under 1,500 hours: DKK 37,915 to 39,863, NOK 40,852 to 42,952 or SEK 38,621 to 40,610 gross per month (careers page viewed October 2026).
- First officer rated on A320 or Embraer 195 with over 1,500 hours: DKK 41,434 to 44,342, NOK 44,653 to 47,782 or SEK 42,219 to 45,175 gross per month; pay and terms are not individually negotiable (October 2026).
- Extras: daily allowance based on duty length and destinations, type rating paid by SAS, pension scheme (no details published) and ID travel (October 2026).
- Rosters: permanent contract with probation, variable roster for all new hires, at least 11 days off per month, roster published on the 16th of the previous month (October 2026).
- Leave: 42 days of annual leave (October 2026).
- Bases and fleet: Copenhagen, Stockholm-Arlanda, Oslo and Bergen; A320 or Embraer 195LR, with possible A330/A350 long-haul flying in a mixed-fleet programme (October 2026).
- Requirements: EASA ATPL, CPL or MPL (converted to a Scandinavian licence before the course), Class 1 medical, MCC, advanced UPRT, ICAO English level 5 or 6, right to work in the EU (October 2026).
- Selection: application, screening (video interview, personality and cognitive tests), online interview, assessment day (group exercise, PF/PM simulator check, interview), then offer or holding pool plus security and drug/alcohol checks (October 2026).
Sources read (3)
The SAS selection, as candidates tell it
What candidates report on forums (Aeronet, Pilot Jobs Network) and what the employer publishes, summarised by ForAllPilots. It is not the official process: it changes from one campaign to the next, always check the posting.
Reliability of the reports : medium
The stages
- Application screening, then a recorded video interview on predefined questions.
- Online interview with a company representative.
- Online cognitive and personality tests.
- Assessment day: group exercise, simulator (often A320, sometimes another type) and interviews with pilots.
- Final checks (security, alcohol and drugs); every stage is eliminatory, a new attempt is possible after 24 months.
The aptitude tests
- Online cognitive tests, which older candidates link to Matrigma-type matrices.
- Personality questionnaire aligned with the company's ‘pilot profile’.
The technical part
- Simulator session of about 30 minutes: raw-data flying and handling, with no engine failure according to one candidate.
- Fairly standard interview: strengths, weaknesses, difference between captain and first officer.
Candidates' tips
- Know the pilot profile competencies published by SAS and prepare an example for each.
- A Scandinavian language is an advantage mentioned by several candidates.
- According to a recently hired first officer (2025), candidates fresh out of flight school are less often selected; a type rating and some hours are valued, as are the school and country of training.
Our exercises to prepare
Give yourself every chance
A captain selection focuses on leadership, decision-making and crew management: prepare real situations, what you decided and why.
Expect an in-depth technical interview and a simulator session: go over abnormal procedures and the performance of your type.
Some airlines give aptitude tests to captains too: a refresher on the arithmetic and attention exercises never hurts.