OS
🇦🇹 AustriaStar AllianceFSCLufthansa Group

Austrian Airlines

Austria's flag carrier, part of the Lufthansa Group.

¥26M
Capt. Avg (pre-tax)
¥15.5M
FO Avg (pre-tax)
~75
Fleet Size
130+
Destinations
Overview

About Austrian Airlines

Austrian Airlines is Austria's flag carrier, hubbed at Vienna. A member of the Lufthansa Group and part of the Star Alliance, it offers particularly strong access to Central and Eastern Europe, with Vienna serving as a key hub connecting Europe with the countries of the former Eastern Bloc. Its operations are diverse, ranging from long-haul routes flown by the B777 and B787 to intra-European routes flown by the A320/A321.

Headquarters
Vienna, Austria
Hub
Vienna Airport (VIE)
Alliance
Star Alliance
Founded
1957
Fleet Size
~75 aircraft
Income Tax
Yes (up to 55%)
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
International widebody
¥20M–¥33M
¥26M Pre-tax
First Officer
Seniority-based
¥12.4M–¥20.5M
¥15.5M Seniority-based

Salaries are denominated in EUR and quoted pre-tax, with pay following a seniority-based structure. Austria's income tax reaches up to 55%, among the highest in Europe. JPY figures on the site are converted at an EUR/JPY rate of 163.

Career Ladder

Pay by Seniority

Modeled from the captain / first-officer ranges above, sliced into standard career stages. Bands marked est. are derived from those ranges (not official); verified bands come from active-pilot data. Management pay is crowd-sourced from verified pilots.

Career StageYearsAnnual (pre-tax)Source
Cadet / Trainee≤2 yrs
¥3.7M–¥6.2M
est.
First Officer — Junior3–5 yrs
¥12.4M–¥16M
est.
First Officer — Mid6–10 yrs
¥14.7M–¥18.2M
est.
First Officer — Senior11–15 yrs
¥16.9M–¥20.5M
est.
Captain — New15–18 yrs
¥20M–¥25.9M
est.
Captain — Mid19–24 yrs
¥23.6M–¥29.4M
est.
Senior Captain25+ yrs
¥27.2M–¥33M
est.
Management / Instructor / ExaminerData wantedcrowd-sourced
Operations

Routes & Fleet

Routes

From its Vienna hub, the airline serves Central and Eastern Europe (Prague, Warsaw, Budapest, etc.), North America (New York, Washington, Los Angeles, etc.), Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Fleet

Boeing 777-200ER, B787-9, Airbus A321neo, A321ceo, A320neo. Around 75 aircraft.

Training

Training & Checkrides

Type Rating (EASA-approved ATO)

Type rating training is completed at an EASA-certified Approved Training Organization (ATO). Ground school → simulator (including MCC) → LIFUS.

LIFUS (Line Training)

After obtaining the type rating, pilots conduct Line Flying Under Supervision alongside an instructor captain — typically around 50–80 legs (per EASA FCL.060).

Recurrent Checks (OPC/LPC)

Proficiency Checks (PC) are conducted once or twice a year to EASA FCL.625/735 standards, overseen by the relevant national CAAs (CAA UK, DGAC, LBA, etc.).

Captain Upgrade & Additional Ratings

After a period as SFO/Senior F/O, pilots undergo captain training. Additional qualifications such as LVP (Low Visibility Procedures), PBN, ETOPS and RVSM are also obtained.

Benefits

Benefits & Perks

✈️
Staff Travel

Heavily discounted or free flights for the employee and their family, also usable on alliance partner carriers.

🏥
Medical Insurance

High-standard European medical insurance. Loss-of-license insurance is also common.

💰
Bonus

Performance-linked bonus (equivalent to 2–4 months' pay per year), in some cases tied to performance evaluations.

📅
Paid Leave

25–35 days per year — a generous leave system under European labor law (EU directives).

🏦
Pension & Corporate Retirement Plan

Defined-benefit or defined-contribution corporate pension (DBP/DCP). In Europe this sits alongside the state pension in a two-tier structure.

🌐
Layover Allowance

Accommodation and per-diem provided for overseas stays; major European cities attract higher high-cost-area allowances.

Job Openings

Recruitment Info (as of March 2026)

Hiring status: Hiring via the Lufthansa Group; open to holders of an EASA ATPL.

Captain / First Officer (Regular Recruitment)
International operations. Vienna-based.
Check Official Site
License: EASA ATPL (Austro Control approved)
English: ICAO Level 4 or higher
Minimum Flight Hours: Captain 5,000h+
German: Conversational level recommended

Austria offers a culturally accessible environment for Japanese pilots considering working and living within the EU.

Comparison

Austrian Airlines vs Japan Majors

AirlineCaptain (range)First OfficerIncome Tax
Austrian Airlines 🇦🇹¥20M–¥33M¥12.4M–¥20.5MIncome tax applies
ANA 🇯🇵¥22M–¥35M¥14M–¥21M~33% (Japan)
JAL 🇯🇵¥22M–¥35M¥14M–¥21M~33% (Japan)

* Salary figures are SSOT reference values (pre-tax unless marked tax-free). ANA / JAL shown as the Japan baseline — ~33% income tax applies in Japan, so after-tax take-home is lower than the headline. Tax-free carriers pay 100% take-home. Verify exact figures with each airline.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Austrian Airlines captain salary in 2026?

Austrian Airlines captain pay averages about ¥26M per year (range ¥20M–¥33M), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.

What is Austrian Airlines first officer salary?

Austrian Airlines first officer pay averages about ¥15.5M per year (range ¥12.4M–¥20.5M), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.

What are the requirements to become a Austrian Airlines pilot?

Captain / First Officer (Regular Recruitment) — International operations. Vienna-based.. Key requirements — License: EASA ATPL (Austro Control approved); English: ICAO Level 4 or higher; Minimum Flight Hours: Captain 5,000h+; German: Conversational level recommended. Austria offers a culturally accessible environment for Japanese pilots considering working and living within the EU.

How does Austrian Airlines pay compare to ANA or JAL?

Austrian Airlines captains average ¥26M, versus roughly ¥27M at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.