CA
🇨🇳 ChinaStar AllianceFSCState-Owned

Air China

China flag carrier. Star Alliance member.

¥17M–¥30M
Capt. Salary (foreign/est.)
¥8M–¥16M
F/O Salary (est.)
430+ aircraft
Fleet
100+ cities
Int'l Destinations
Overview

About Air China

Air China is China's flag carrier and Star Alliance member. Hubbing at Beijing Capital and Daxing airports, it serves global routes. Has historically recruited foreign pilots, particularly captains, though policy varies by period.

HQ
Beijing, China
Hubs
Beijing Capital (PEK) / Daxing (PKX)
Alliance
Star Alliance
Founded
1988
Owner
Chinese Government
Foreign Hire
Track record (policy varies)
Salary Data

Pilot Salary (as of March 2026)

* Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks. Verify actual compensation with each airline's official recruitment information.

PositionSalary RangeAvg / ReferenceNotes
Captain (Foreign Contract)
Int'l widebody
¥17M–¥30M
¥22M USD special contract
First Officer
China domestic & int'l
¥8M–¥16M
¥11M CNY+USD

💡 USD/JPY=150, CNY/JPY≈20. USD special contracts for foreign pilots. China income tax up to 45% but foreign exemptions may apply. Verify current policy.

Operations

Routes & Fleet

Routes

Beijing hub to Europe (London, Frankfurt, LA, NY), SE Asia, Japan (NRT/HND), Middle East, Oceania.

Fleet

B777-300ER, B737-8, A350, A321neo, A320neo, C919 (domestic). 430+ aircraft.

Training

Training & Checkrides

Type Rating

CAAC China-approved ATC. Ground → simulator → LIFUS.

LIFUS

Supervised line ops post-type rating.

Recurrent Checks

OPC/LPC 1–2x per year per CAAC.

CAAC License Conversion

Foreign license conversion to CAAC required. Time and cost involved. Plan accordingly.

Benefits

Benefits & Perks

✈️
Staff Travel

Air China discount tickets. Star Alliance partners included.

🏙️
Beijing/Shanghai Life

Major China cities. Cost of living lower than Japan in some respects.

🏥
Health Insurance

Medical coverage for pilot and family.

💰
Bonus

Performance-linked bonus.

🏦
Pension

Corporate pension.

🌐
Layover Allowance

Per diem for international layovers.

Job Openings

Recruitment Info (as of March 2026)

Hiring status: Foreign pilot hiring policy varies. Recent trend toward Chinese pilot training. Check latest status.

Contract Captain (Foreign)
Int'l widebody (irregular)
Check Official Page
License: ATPL (ICAO)
Experience: 5,000h+ widebody
CAAC: License conversion required

⚠️ CAAC license conversion requires time and cost. Plan carefully.