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At a Glance...
ASL Aviation Holdings is a cargo operator founded in 2008 in Europe. The company operates globally with individual airline AOCs based in Ireland, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Hungary, the UK and Australia, alongside associate airlines in South Africa, Thailand and India. Due to its expanding international footprint and accelerating cargo demand, ASL was under significant pressure to scale operations. With cargo volumes reaching record levels during Covid and the Brexit transition period, ASL engaged AeroProfessional’s specialist pilot recruitment team to increase its B747 pilot headcount and maintain flight schedules at its Belgian base.
The Situation...
In 2020, the aviation industry faced two major disruptions: the Covid-19 pandemic and the UK’s post-Brexit transition period. While passenger travel declined sharply, global air cargo demand surged, driven by the urgent transport of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and increased e-commerce activity during lockdown. Recruiting experienced B747 pilots became particularly challenging due to the aircraft’s specialist widebody requirements and the limited pool of qualified flight crew. In response to rising cargo volumes and operational pressure, ASL launched an accelerated B747 pilot recruitment programme to maintain continuity at its Belgian base.
AeroProfessional is an aviation recruitment consultancy with an established network of cargo and long-haul flight crew. Drawing on extensive pilot recruitment expertise, the team supports airlines in securing qualified candidates during periods of market volatility, including regulatory and cross-border disruption such as Covid and Brexit.
To sustain operations and meet growing cargo demand, ASL engaged AeroProfessional to secure sufficient B747 pilots for its Belgian operation. The recruitment campaign focused on identifying experienced Captains and First Officers while managing licence validity, EU regulatory compliance, and social security considerations ahead of the Brexit transition deadline. AeroProfessional also coordinated simulator travel and placement logistics under Covid-related restrictions to ensure operational readiness.
The Solution...
The pandemic disrupted numerous airlines, leading to significant operational challenges and widespread layoffs of pilots and other aviation personnel. AeroProfessional swiftly responded to this crisis by collaborating with two major airlines to assist pilots facing redundancy. Recognising the urgent need to find alternative employment for these pilots, AeroProfessional facilitated their transfer to ASL, ensuring they could continue their careers without interruption. In addition to assisting pilots affected by airline layoffs, AeroProfessional also engaged with BALPA (the British Airline Pilots’ Association) to identify and support more pilots seeking new job opportunities. By leveraging their connections and expertise, AeroProfessional ensured that pilots with the appropriate qualifications and Type-Ratings were matched with positions at ASL and other carriers.
With Covid-19 becoming increasingly challenging, restricting travel and movement, AeroProfessional managed to arrange transport for chosen candidates. This enabled them to attend interviews and simulator sessions in Belgium for ASL, while complying with the lockdown regulations in force. All pilots followed a thorough assessment preparation that AeroProfessional organised, ensuring that they performed to ASL’s high standards. Meanwhile, as the Covid lockdown restrictions were in effect, all of AeroProfessional’s employees coordinated these efforts while working from home full-time for the first time.
The UK's departure from the EU posed a risk to the validity of UK pilot licences in Europe, potentially endangering the positions of ASL's newly recruited pilots. To mitigate risk, AeroProfessional collaborated closely with ASL and the pilots to convert their UK licences to EASA ones. This crucial step ensured that the pilots could legally work at their base in Belgium and without any issues in the long run. Moreover, AeroProfessional used established contacts and liaised with the appropriate Belgian authority to resolve the work permit and visa issues, safeguarding the rights of ASL’s UK pilots to live and work in the EU while retaining their social security benefits after the Brexit transition deadline.
The Results...
Despite the uncertain employment climate and lockdown restrictions, which made sourcing highly experienced B747 pilots increasingly complex, AeroProfessional achieved an 80% success rate in its B747 pilot recruitment campaign for ASL. AeroProfessional also coordinated discussions with airlines releasing pilots due to Covid-related redundancies, enabling qualified flight crew to transition into ASL’s cargo operations and accelerate the recruitment process in response to rising global cargo demand.
The AeroProfessional team successfully managed travel arrangements for shortlisted B747 pilot candidates to Belgium for simulator assessments, ensuring safety, regulatory compliance and operational continuity throughout Covid-19 restrictions. Through structured interview and assessment preparation, AeroProfessional maximised candidate readiness and reduced additional assessment costs for ASL, helping maintain recruitment momentum with minimal disruption.
AeroProfessional also played a critical role in managing Brexit-related regulatory challenges by engaging with relevant authorities, including the Belgian regulator. By resolving visa, work permit and licence considerations for UK pilot hires, AeroProfessional ensured long-term compliance and operational stability for ASL’s Belgian base, eliminating future regulatory risk during a period of industry uncertainty.
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It has been extraordinarily challenging, given the circumstances of delivering to the needs of our client ASL. But through our commitment to both ASL and the pilots involved in the process, combined with our market knowledge and continued perseverance, we were able to overcome all challenges presented to us. It was a great success and demonstrates our team’s ability and determination to deliver results, even in the face of such unprecedented adversity.
Sam Sprules
Managing Director
AeroProfessional
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