How to become cabin crew at Emirates, Etihad, ITA Airways or Ryanair?
Publication date
11.08.2026
First step: understand the cabin crew recruitment day
Cabin crew work can mean travel, confidence, great colleagues and a completely different pace of life. The experience, though, depends heavily on the airline you join.
The short answer to “how do I become assistente di volo?” is simple: you need to get through the cabin crew recruitment day.
Different airlines offer very different careers. ITA Airways rappresenta il prestigio italiano e le basi di Roma o Milano. Ryanair offre una rete enorme in Italy e un primo passo pratico per volare. easyJet, Wizz Air, Neos and Volotea can also be practical routes into aviation. Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways offer international cabin crew careers based in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.
For many young candidates, cabin crew is a way to see the world, grow quickly and build a career that feels bigger than a typical office job.
Quick answer: what photos should you prepare?
For Emirates Cabin Crew Open Day, prepare a simple professional photo set before the recruitment day. Do not wait until you pass the first stage, because the next steps can move quickly.
Short-haul flying can mean early starts, late finishes, quick turnarounds and returning home after duty. Long-haul flying can mean layovers, bigger aircraft, seeing the world and a more international lifestyle.
The right airline depends on what you want: a local base in Italy, long-haul travel, fast progression, life abroad, or simply your first step into aviation.
Choosing the airline you apply to is one of the biggest decisions when you want to become assistente di volo.
Italy cabin crew recruitment is competitive
ITA Airways attracts candidates who want Italian flag-carrier prestige, Rome or Milan base life and a recognised airline name on their CV. Ryanair can be a practical first step because it has a huge Italian and European network. easyJet, Wizz Air, Neos and Volotea can also give candidates real flying experience. Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways add another level of competition because candidates apply from all over the world.
A realistic route into Emirates cabin crew
A candidate may dream of Emirates, attend an Open Day and get rejected. They will usually need to wait before applying again, often around six months. In the meantime, they might join a local airline, improve their confidence and be better prepared for the next Emirates Cabin Crew Open Day. Some candidates get into Emirates on their third or fourth attempt.
Who can work as assistente di volo? Almost anyone who meets the formal requirements and has the right attitude. You need to apply, pass the online screening or perform well on assessment day and pass the final interview.
How to prepare for cabin crew recruitment
Start by deciding what kind of airline life you want. Do you want to stay based in Italy with ITA Airways or Ryanair? Or are you ready to relocate to Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha for Emirates, Etihad or Qatar Airways?
Recruitment becomes more competitive when the pay, lifestyle and brand are highly attractive. Emirates and Etihad receive applications from all over the world, while local carriers usually require candidates to have the legal right to live and work in Italy. That makes the competition more local than for the big Gulf international Open Days.
Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways expect candidates to look elegant, communicate clearly and show real empathy. Throughout the assessment day, candidates complete a series of exercises designed to reveal their character, confidence and ability to work with people.
Low-cost and leisure airlines can be a very good first step. The recruitment process may be shorter, but you still need to show empathy, great customer service and teamwork.
Be honest about your life situation. Can you work unsociable hours, including weekends and bank holidays? Can you commute to your airline base, even for very early or night departures? Do you have a reliable way to get to the airport? Are you ready for standby, where you stay alert and can jump into uniform when called? Would you move abroad if Emirates or Qatar selected you, and are you ready to live in Dubai or Doha and leave everything behind?
Example: Emirates Cabin Crew Open Day
Imagine hundreds of candidates arriving for Emirates recruitment. The day starts with a presentation about life in Dubai, the airline, salary package and requirements.
Candidates then move through CV drop-off, reach checks, grooming or presentation checks and short conversations with recruiters.
Fewer candidates continue. First through the pair or small-group tasks, then through group discussions. It can feel intense, but it is normal in high-volume cabin crew recruitment.
By the end of the day, only a limited number of selected candidates are invited to the final interview, often around 3-5 people.
Final interviews are usually arranged separately and go deeper into customer service examples, your experience and character traits.
What should you focus on if you want to become assistente di volo? Look elegant, speak clearly, stay calm and listen carefully. Airlines want people they can trust with their passengers to deliver the best onboard experience.
You can check the essential cabin crew requirements with our free test below.
How to become assistente di volo in 2026
1. Build a clean CV focused on customer service, hospitality, retail, care, travel, languages or teamwork.
2. Prepare professional recruitment photos for Emirates or Qatar Airways. The Emirates photos on a white background are valid for all other airlines. You can check the photo guidelines here.
3. Search for cabin crew jobs and apply online through the official airline careers page.
4. Complete any online tests carefully. These may include English, situational judgement or personality-style screening.
5. If you are shortlisted, attend a recruitment day or assessment day at the location chosen by the airline.
6. If you pass the assessment, prepare for a final interview with stronger examples and an in-depth session about solving problems.
This is where many candidates benefit from structured practice. Cabin crew preparation helps you understand what airline assessment days look like. You can prepare for the cabin crew assessment day with our tasks.
Good preparation shows you where you are strong and where you need work. It helps with role plays, group tasks and final interview answers. A prepared candidate is confident and can deliver under pressure.
Know the cabin crew recruitment stages
Every recruitment day is divided into stages so recruiters can work through a large number of candidates. First there may be a CV drop-off or a short introduction. Then there is usually some kind of assessment centre: individual tasks, pair exercises or larger group activities.
You may also have waiting time, lunch breaks and moments when you leave the room before coming back for the next stage. Remember that you can be observed throughout the day, not only during the official exercises. Be kind to other candidates, hotel staff and everyone around you. This is part of the process too.
How to become ITA Airways assistente di volo?
ITA Airways is the main Italian flag carrier and a strong target for candidates who want prestige, Italian base life and a career connected to Italy.
To become ITA Airways assistente di volo, start with the official online application. If roles are not open, wait and keep checking the careers site. Once applications open, you will usually upload your CV, complete the online application and attach recruitment photos.
The process can include self-presentation, group exercises and direct interviews with recruiters.
ITA Airways looks for people who can represent the brand, deliver strong customer service and work well in an international environment.
If you dream of ITA Airways, prepare examples from customer service, conflict handling, procedures awareness and moments where you stayed composed under pressure.
ITA Airways assessment day
Prepare for lots of interaction, including team-building tasks, group discussions and role plays. When you perform, be creative, think outside the box and stay part of the team. Stay calm and composed while acting with confidence. Remember empathy and passenger needs. Try to imagine the contained cabin crew environment onboard an aircraft.
ITA Airways cabin crew training
Once you sign the contract, you will be assigned a joining date and start ITA Airways cabin crew training. Training usually feels like an intensive school period and can take several weeks, depending on the role, fleet and intake.
During training, you learn safety, medical and aircraft procedures, customer service drills, emergency procedures, airline service rules and international aviation requirements.
During training, you may receive your first roster, meet future colleagues and start discovering the base and routes you will work on.
How to become Ryanair assistente di volo?
Ryanair is another important airline target in Italy. It offers a huge network, busy bases and a practical way to start flying quickly.
If Ryanair is your target, make sure you understand the airline personality and the type of passengers it serves. Be professional, but let recruiters see warmth, empathy and confidence.
For some candidates, Ryanair is a natural local dream airline. As a top airline in its segment, it attracts many candidates who want assistente di volo work with a strong local brand.
How to become Emirates cabin crew?
Emirates is one of the world’s biggest long-haul airlines and recruits cabin crew internationally.
Cabin Crew Open Days and application routes are published on Emirates Cabin Crew Careers.
Candidates can attend local Open Days or travel abroad if another location is more convenient.
Emirates cabin crew recruitment
Emirates recruitment can be a walk-in Open Day or an invitation-only Open Day. The format depends on the number of online applications, the city, the venue capacity and how busy that recruitment location is expected to be.
A walk-in Emirates Cabin Crew Open Day is open to candidates who want to attend. You need to dress appropriately and arrive at the event hotel with your CV and recruitment photos.
Invitation Only means the airline shortlists candidates for a specific recruitment event and invites them by email. Emirates may use this format when it wants to limit numbers, control the applicant flow or target a specific recruitment profile.
Candidates should prepare their CV, photos and grooming carefully. A positive outcome from the Assessment Centre can lead to the Golden Call and preparations to move to Dubai.
Emirates can be attractive because it offers a tax-free salary, free accommodation and an international route network. Emirates also offers many perks, including heavily discounted tickets for family and friends, and a truly international working environment.
But to achieve that, you need to succeed in a highly competitive selection process. You need to perform well throughout the entire Assessment Centre and Final Interview, and then stay responsive during the next steps: collecting documents, completing formalities and replying to recruiter requests.
To become Emirates cabin crew, you need to be prepared and trained. Treat it like applying to Harvard, Cambridge or MIT: you need to pass once, and your life can change.
Minimum age for Emirates cabin crew
Gulf countries set 21 years old as the age of full adulthood. Candidates need to be at least 21 years old to join Emirates cabin crew.
This requirement is linked to legal and service responsibilities, including onboard alcohol service and passenger care during the flight.
Emirates recruitment is detail-focused. The airline looks at presentation, confidence, communication, teamwork and readiness to relocate.
CV drop-off means handing your CV and photos to the recruiter, often with a short conversation.
First impression matters: polished appearance, good posture, positive energy and professional manners.
The next stage is the assessment day: pair work, group tasks and English-language checks. The goal is to select people with the right cabin crew profile.
The final interview goes deeper into your motivation, customer service stories and ability to understand passenger needs.
If selected, you may receive a Golden Call from Emirates HR and move into the "joining formalities in progress" stage. During this process, you need to submit many documents, complete required vaccinations, provide education and work references, pass medical examinations and get ready to fly to Dubai.
How to become Etihad cabin crew?
Etihad is based in Abu Dhabi and offers a prestigious working environment, beautifully crafted uniforms, elegant aircraft interiors and a strong international route network.
The recruitment process is similar to Emirates. Look for an Etihad Open Day, prepare yourself for the exact date and location, and be ready for a multi-stage Assessment Centre, including the final interview.
Etihad candidates need inner elegance, composure, strong self-presentation, the ability to deliver premium customer service and real readiness to move to Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are both in the UAE, but Etihad is based in the country’s capital, which gives the airline a very distinctive prestige and identity.
Etihad also means a luxury lifestyle with a tax-free salary, free accommodation and many perks. Competition to become Etihad cabin crew is very high worldwide.
Summary: how to become assistente di volo
Finally, the answer to how to become assistente di volo is simple: go to an airline selection or Open Day, pass the assessment day and sign the contract.
What sounds simple, however, can take real effort to achieve. Top airlines are highly competitive and attract candidates from all over the world. Be prepared to approach the Emirates Cabin Crew Open Day more than once before getting accepted.
But it is worth it. Cabin crew can be a dream job, full of perks, travel and golden doors.
Prepare for the event and good luck with your cabin crew journey.
