Who earns more, an ANA captain or a JAL captain?

ANA and JAL captain pay is at essentially the same level (average $169K). An ANA senior captain on international B777 operations and a JAL senior captain on international A350/B777 operations are both in the $188K–$219K class, so there is almost nothing between them.

Which airline pays first officers more, ANA or JAL?

ANA and JAL first officer pay is at essentially the same level, averaging $113K at both carriers. Individual earnings vary with the type and the routes flown.

ANA vs JAL: Same $169K Captain Pay, But Take-Home, Upgrade Speed and Fleet Tell a Different Story [2026 Update]

Q: Which pays more for pilots, ANA or JAL?

ANA and JAL pilot pay sits at essentially the same level: captains at both average $169K. First officers are also on a par (average $113K). JAL has one scheme of its own — a $29K completion bonus five years after upgrading to captain.

Q: Which is easier to get into, ANA's or JAL's company-sponsored cadet program?

Both the ANA and JAL cadet programs are exceptionally hard to get into. JAL hires around 50 cadets a year, a comparatively large intake, while ANA tends to take fewer — in the region of 10 to 30. JAL also draws more applicants, however, so competition at both carriers runs into the hundreds to one.

Q: Which airline gets you to captain faster, ANA or JAL?

Upgrade to captain tends to come slightly sooner at ANA: figure on 15 to 18 years after joining at ANA, versus 15 to 20 years at JAL. That said, it swings widely with individual assessments, medical status and the company's fleet requirements.

ANA

All Nippon Airways (ANA)

Star Alliance member / Japan's largest

2,700万

Captain, average

1,800万

First officer, average

1,770万

Captain, take-home

See the full ANA page →

JAL

Japan Airlines (JAL)

Oneworld member / first A350 operator in Japan

2,700万

Captain, average

1,800万

First officer, average

1,770万

Captain, take-home

See the full JAL page →

Reviewed by a line pilot: the verdict

On captain pay, ANA and JAL are all but even (average 2,700万円)

Whichever of the two you join, making captain puts you at Japan's top pay band of 2,700万円. What ultimately decides it is not the gap in pay but which alliance, which route network and which corporate culture you connect with.

Full comparison

ANA vs JAL: the complete comparison table

Category	ANA (All Nippon Airways)	JAL (Japan Airlines)	Edge
Captain, average annual salary	¥2,700万	¥2,700万	Even
First officer, average annual salary	¥1,800万	¥1,800万	Even
Captain, top-end salary (guide)	¥3,500万+	¥3,500万+	Even
Captain, take-home (on 2,700万 gross)	approx. ¥1,770万	approx. ¥1,770万	Even
Years to captain upgrade (guide)	15–18 years	15–20 years	ANA slightly faster
Flight allowance (captain, per hour)	¥8,000–¥9,500	¥8,200–¥9,200	Near even
Bonus (standard)	2–4 months' pay a year (performance-linked)	2–4 months' pay a year (performance-linked)	Even
Special bonus	—	¥460万 at 5 years as captain	JAL ahead
Alliance	Star Alliance	Oneworld	Down to taste
Newest types (flagship)	B777, A380, B787	A350, B777, B787	Down to taste
Fleet size	approx. 270 aircraft	approx. 240 aircraft	ANA slightly larger
International network	90+ countries	60+ countries	ANA ahead
Company-sponsored cadet intake (per year)	10–30	approx. 50	JAL takes more
Retirement age	65 (captain)	65 (captain)	Identical
Financial stability	No bankruptcy; continuous growth	Fully rebuilt after the 2010 bankruptcy	ANA slightly steadier
Corporate culture	Bold, innovative	Traditional, long-established	Down to taste

Pay progression

ANA vs JAL: pay progression by career stage

Both carriers laid side by side, from the day you join to senior captain.

Career stage	Typical years	ANA salary	JAL salary	Gap
Trainee	Joining to year 2	¥400–700万	¥400–700万	Near identical
Newly line-qualified F/O	Years 3–5	¥1,100–1,400万	¥1,100–1,400万	Near identical
Mid-career F/O	Years 6–10	¥1,400–1,800万	¥1,400–1,800万	Near identical
Senior F/O	Years 11–15	¥1,700–2,100万	¥1,700–2,100万	Near identical
Newly upgraded captain	Years 15–20	¥2,000–2,400万	¥2,000–2,400万	Near identical
Captain (mid-career)	Years 19–24	¥2,400–2,700万	¥2,400–2,700万	Near identical
Senior captain	Year 25 onwards	¥2,700–3,500万	¥2,700–3,500万	Even

* The figures above are reference values drawn from reports by line pilots. They move with type, route and performance bonus.

Take-home

ANA vs JAL: take-home pay compared

At the same gross salary, take-home is effectively identical at the two carriers (under Japanese tax rules).

Position	Annual salary (gross)	Take-home, annual	Take-home, monthly
Senior captain (ANA/JAL alike)	¥3,000万	approx. ¥1,940万	approx. ¥162万
Captain, average (ANA/JAL alike)	¥2,700万	approx. ¥1,770万	approx. ¥147万
First officer, ANA average	¥1,800万	approx. ¥1,230万	approx. ¥102万
First officer, JAL average	¥1,800万	approx. ¥1,230万	approx. ¥102万

How to choose

ANA vs JAL — which one should you choose?

ANA

ANA suits you if…

✦The Star Alliance route network (Lufthansa, United and the rest) appeals to you
✦You want to build experience on the broader international network (90+ countries)
✦You want time on an unusual type — the A380 on the Honolulu route
✦A bold, innovation-driven corporate culture speaks to you
✦You want broad fleet exposure, from the domestic A320 to the international B777
✦You want the earliest possible upgrade to captain

JAL

JAL suits you if…

✦The Oneworld route network (British Airways, American, Qatar Airways and the rest) appeals to you
✦You want to fly a state-of-the-art type like the A350 (first introduced in Japan by JAL)
✦You like the odds that come with a bigger intake (around 50 a year)
✦You value the special bonus paid on completing five years as captain (460万円)
✦You identify with a long-established, tradition-minded culture and history
✦You are coming to flying after a first career (career-changer route)

Verdict: on pay alone it makes no difference — in the end, decide on which airline you actually want to fly for

Both ANA and JAL sit at Japan's ceiling, an average of 2,700万円 for captains, and take-home and benefits are all but identical too. What matters when you go into selection is being able to give the interview panel a clear reason — "because I want to be at ANA", "because I love JAL's fleet". Both companies are looking for people who are genuinely serious about becoming pilots.

FAQ

ANA vs JAL: frequently asked questions

Which pays more for pilots, ANA or JAL?+

Captains and first officers are on effectively the same level at both (captains average 2,700万円, first officers 1,800万円). JAL does have a scheme of its own: a 460万円 bonus on completing five years after upgrading to captain.

Which is easier to get into, ANA's or JAL's company-sponsored cadet program?+

JAL takes around 50 cadets a year, a comparatively large intake, while ANA tends to take fewer — in the region of 10 to 30. JAL also draws more applicants, though, so competition at both runs into the hundreds to one. Assume there is no great difference in your chances.

Which airline gets you to captain faster, ANA or JAL?+

ANA tends to be marginally quicker — figure on 15 to 18 years at ANA versus 15 to 20 at JAL. It swings widely, however, with individual assessments, medical status and each carrier's fleet requirements. Neither company offers any guarantee that you will make captain early.

Do ANA and JAL run direct-entry hiring for licensed line pilots?+

As of 2026, neither ANA nor JAL advertises direct-entry recruitment for serving pilots (CPL/ATPL holders). At both carriers the main ways in are the company-sponsored cadet program or junior license-holder recruitment. Line pilots weighing a move to a foreign or low-cost carrier are better advised to look at foreign carriers such as Emirates and Singapore Airlines.

Whose staff travel discounts are easier to use, ANA's or JAL's?+

Both run discounted-ticket schemes for staff and their families. ANA employees also have ready access to discounts across Star Alliance carriers (Lufthansa, United, Thai Airways and others), while JAL employees can use discounts across Oneworld (British Airways, American and others). Choosing on where you like to travel is one perfectly good approach.

ANA

ANA pilot salary: the full page

Year-by-year progression, take-home, differences by type, and hiring requirements in detail

See the details →

JAL

JAL pilot salary: the full page