MPL Program
Start Your Pilot Career with the Finnair MPL Program
The Finnair MPL Program (Multi-crew pilot licence) is a training program designed for those interested in a career as an airline pilot, aiming to qualify trainees to operate as part of a multi-pilot crew for an airline. Finnair’s MPL training prepares students directly for the role of an Airbus A320 pilot.
The initial phase of the training includes ATPL (airline transport pilot licence) theoretical studies, as well as around half a year of basic flight and instrument flight training. After this, studies continue in a flight simulator that replicates a real A320 flight deck, operating as a two-pilot crew. In the simulator phase, students practice not only technical skills but also the cooperation, communication, and decision‑making skills required in airline operations.
The MPL program is based on extensive use of new training technologies and flight simulators. In a simulated training environment, training scenarios can be controlled more effectively than in an actual aircraft, and training objectives can be ensured by simulating exactly the kinds of problem‑solving situations the student will face in their future work.
At the end of the training, students complete six landings in a real aircraft, as required by the authorities. After successfully completing the training, the student receives an MPL licence and an Airbus A320 type rating, qualifying them to work as an airline pilot for Finnair.
The training is carried out in cooperation with European flight training organisations. The partner of the first training is Center Air Pilot Academy in Denmark. Center Air is Denmark’s largest flight school and was the first in Europe to launch MPL training.
The duration of the training is approx. 22 months. The first 18-20 months of the training are organized at Center Air’s training facility in Roskilde, Denmark. The final part takes place in the A320 simulator at Finnair’s own training center in Vantaa, Finland.
The application period for the MPL Program is open from Friday 17 April until Sunday 3 May 2026.
The student selection for the MPL program is done using Selex Oy's application service. Register and fill out the application form (link below).
Who are we looking for
- Age of at least 18 years old and minimum 163 cm tall.
- Degree from an upper secondary school or completed vocational upper secondary qualification of at least three years (180 ECTS credits, 120 in the former credit system).
- Good language skills in Finnish and English.
- Fulfilling the medical criteria defined by Finnair (you can read more about the medical criteria from here).
- Passing a concise security clearance by the Finnish police.
What do we offer
- A fast-track pathway to train as an airline pilot for Finnair without any previous aviation background.
- Training required for the Multi-crew pilot licence (MPL) for a course fee of 60,000 euros.
- Airbus A320 type rating included as part of the training.
- Priority (for five years) for employment as a Finnair A320 pilot.
- The opportunity for an amazing career, with the potential to progress all the way to becoming an Airbus A350 captain.
Career stories
Matka kohti ohjaamoa: Finnairin lentäjän Mikon matka MPL-ohjelmasta A350-lentäjäksi
Käynnistämme jälleen MPL-lentäjäkoulutusohjelman (Multi-Crew Pilot License), joka valmistaa oppilaan suoraan toisen ohjaajan tehtävään Airbus A320-koneperheeseen. Lentäjämme Mikko Nikkanen sai MPL-lupakirjan ensimmäisenä Suomessa. Lue, miten hän päätyi Sydneyn lentokentältä suoraan koulun penkille ja eteni siitä mannertenvälisten reittien lentäjäksi.
Frequently asked questions
Find answers to the frequently asked questions.
If you don’t find an answer to the question you have in mind, you can ask us via email: pilotjobs@finnair.com
The MPL training program offers an excellent foundation for a career as an airline pilot. Students are trained directly to fly the A320 aircraft family and are given priority (for five years) for employment at Finnair when the airline recruits pilots for this aircraft type. The training program is specifically designed to meet airline needs and includes a substantial amount of type‑specific training in the A320 simulator.
Students must meet Finnair’s selection criteria, which can be found from our career site. The selection process consists of an application stage, aptitude testing, and interviews. Selex Oy’s personnel selection service is used for student selection for both the MPL training and the Finnish Aviation Academy. If an applicant has already successfully completed the student selection process of the Finnish Aviation Academy, they will proceed directly to the interview stage of the MPL training.
The duration of the MPL training program is approximately 22 months, including type rating training on an Airbus aircraft. After completing the program, the student qualifies to work as an A320 airline pilot for Finnair. The timing of employment depends on Finnair’s operational needs, but graduates of the program are given priority for five years whenever Finnair recruits co-pilots to the A320 family, which is typically a pilot’s first airline position.
Finnair organizes the training in cooperation with a partner that provides basic flight training. The partner for the first training program is Center Air Pilot Academy in Denmark.
The first 18-20 months are carried out at Center Air’s training center in Roskilde, Denmark. The remainder of the training takes place on an A320 flight simulator at Finnair Flight Academy in Vantaa, Finland.
Finnair will arrange flights for the students to Denmark at the start of the training and their return to Finland at the conclusion of the abroad portion of the program. Any other travel between Finland and Denmark during the foreign training period will be the responsibility of the student.
The student is responsible for accommodation costs during the period of study, regardless of the study location. Finnair’s partner organizations offer affordable accommodation in a student dormitory for the duration of the study period abroad.
The cost for the student is 60,000 euros. The payment is divided so that during the training the student pays a total of 37,500 euros in three installments. The student pays the remaining 22,500 euros once they have been employed by Finnair. Students are responsible for their own accommodation costs during the training period, both in Finland and in Denmark.
The MPL program is a training path specifically designed for airline use. It differs from traditional professional pilot licence (ATPL) training in that the student already knows at the start of the training which airline they will work for and which aircraft type they will be flying. Students who are accepted into MPL training have a training agreement with the airline. The airline’s flight procedures and operating models are integrated into the training from the very beginning, and all elements included in the new pilot’s induction are built into the various stages of the program. Therefore, no separate co‑pilot training or type rating is required.
The goal is to train approximately 40–60 pilots per year through the MPL program.
Due to growth and upcoming retirements, Finnair’s pilot demand is estimated to be 80–100 pilots per year over the coming years.
The goal is for the first graduates of the program to begin flying duties at Finnair around the summer of 2028. The timing depends on Finnair’s operational needs.