British Airways

BA

London LHR
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British Airways Boeing 777-300ER

Company

Airline headquartered in the UK. Founded 1974. Has a pilot base at London (LHR). Fleet includes the A319-100, A320-200 and A320neo.

Company details2 facts · Fleet · Sources
Headquarters
United Kingdom
Founded
1974

FleetTypes listed by the airline

  • A319-100
  • A320-200
  • A320neo
  • A321-200
  • A350-1000
  • A380-800
  • B777-200
  • B777-300
  • B787-10
  • B787-8
  • B787-9
  • E190

SourcesBritish Airways “Company information”British Airways “Explore our past”British Airways “Airbus A319-100”British Airways “Airbus A320-200”British Airways “Airbus A320neo”British Airways “Airbus A321-200”British Airways “Airbus A350-1000”British Airways “Airbus A380-800”British Airways “Boeing 777-200”British Airways “Boeing 777-300”British Airways “Boeing 787-10”British Airways “Boeing 787-8”British Airways “Boeing 787-9”British Airways “Embraer 190”

Pay

British Airways Captain, estimated annual pay

$250K

British Airways First Officer, estimated annual pay

$177K

Our estimate

Submitted payREAL PAY

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Who it covers, what’s included, and when
Captain
Our estimate
First Officer
Our estimate

Jobs

Airline’s careers page
Pension
Defined-contribution pension (from 2% employee and 7% employer, with options to increase)Vacancy for A320 type-rated pilots (benefits section)
Pension (employer contribution cap)
Employer contributions of up to 15%Vacancy for A320 type-rated pilots
Insurance
Private medical coverVacancy for A320 type-rated pilots
Staff travel
Standby tickets and up to 30 confirmed discounted fares from the day you join, for you, friends and familyVacancy for A320 type-rated pilots
Annual leave
6 weeks a year14 April 2026
Cadet accommodation
During flight school training the company arranges and pays for accommodationSpeedbird Pilot Academy FAQs (as of 14 April 2026). For type training at the base airport after joining, you arrange your own accommodation
Applications
Vacancy for A320 type-rated pilots (closing 25 October 2026)Vacancy for A320 type-rated pilots (UK license)
Cadet recruitment
Applications for 2026 have closedFuture Pilots (Speedbird Pilot Academy) guide
Requirements (first officers)
UK CAA license; current type ratingDirect-entry senior first officer vacancy for UK CAA license holders (company LinkedIn advert)
Training bond
Conversion and type training are paid by the company, with no bondVacancy for A320 type-rated pilots
Training locations
FTEJerez or Skyborne (preferences are considered but not guaranteed)Speedbird Pilot Academy FAQs (as of 14 April 2026)
Sources4

British Airways “Direct Entry Pilot - A320 Type Rated pilot- UK licence holder”checked 19 October 2026British Airways “Speedbird Pilot Academy FAQs — correct as of 14 April 2026”checked 19 October 2026British Airways “Future Pilots”checked 19 October 2026British Airways “Direct Entry Pilot, Senior First Officer, UK CAA licence holder（会社名義LinkedIn原求人）”checked 29 October 2026

Benefits

Pension

If you contribute 6%, the company contributes 15% (British Airways Pension Plan)

Recruitment pack for experienced senior first officers (2026)

  • CommutingHeathrow Express discount (75%)
  • Staff travel (from day one)Standby tickets (ID90) and confirmed-seat discounts (Hotline)

Answer anonymously

Destinations & layovers

BaseLondon LHR View on Google Maps

Some destinationsGrouped by region, not by popularity

28 airports

Sourcesbasis · conditions · date
Conditions
  • Airports in official materials from British Airways and on international segments to and from the US flown by British Airways scheduled passenger flights in the US DOT (BTS) July 2026 traffic data. Base airports are not included.
  • Destinations confirmed in our research: 28 airports, as of 29 October 2026. This may not be every destination. It does not show which aircraft types or bases fly there, or whether crews lay over.
  • Sorted by region (cities with a photo first), not by popularity or number of flights.
As of
Checked in our research on 29 October 2026
Photo credits9

Tell us one thing about British Airways.

You can save after answering just one question. Answers are anonymous and appear on the airline page once three pilots have answered the same item.

Answers so far

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Roster10 questions
Commuting and taxis8 questions
Staff Travel10 questions
Upgrade to captain4 questions
Training and career8 questions
Leave and allowances9 questions
Hotels and restaurantsBy destination · pilots only

Reviews

Member posts: —
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the British Airways captain salary in 2026?

British Airways captain pay is estimated at about $250K per year, pre-tax. These are our own estimates from public information, not figures the airline publishes.

What is the British Airways first officer salary?

British Airways first officer pay is estimated at about $177K per year, pre-tax, rising with seniority.

What are the requirements to become a British Airways pilot?

Captain & First Officer — International operations, primarily Heathrow-based. Key requirements: License: UK CAA ATPL; English: ICAO Level 4+; Type: B777/A380/B787 preferred. The airline’s vacancy for A320 type-rated pilots asks for an A320 type rating, a UK Part-FCL license and at least 500 hours on type. Post-Brexit, a UK CAA ATPL (or a conversion from EASA) is required.

What is the British Airways pilot salary per month?

Dividing our estimated annual figures by 12, British Airways captains earn about $21K a month and first officers about $15K. What actually lands each month moves with block hours flown, and where an annual bonus is paid the regular monthly figure sits lower with a spike in the bonus month.

What is the British Airways pilot pay scale?

We estimate British Airways first officers at $177K and captains at $250K — a step of about $74K, or roughly 1.4×. The actual figure moves with seniority, type rating and the routes you fly.

Is the British Airways pilot salary before or after tax?

Every figure on this page is gross, before income tax. We estimate captains at $250K and first officers at $177K pre-tax, and income tax, social insurance and any local levies come out of that. Take-home depends on where you are resident and on your own deductions, so no single percentage applies. Airlines based in countries with no personal income tax — the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia — leave more of the same gross figure in your hand.