U2
🇬🇧 United KingdomLCCIndependentEurope

easyJet

easyJet — the UK's largest low-cost carrier, operating across the whole of Europe.

¥27M
Capt. Avg (pre-tax)
¥15M
FO Avg (pre-tax)
~350
Fleet Size
150+
Destination Cities
Overview

About easyJet

easyJet is a low-cost carrier founded with its base at London Luton Airport, and today it connects more than 150 cities across the whole of Europe. It maintains major bases in London, Amsterdam, Geneva, Milan and elsewhere. Its fleet is standardized on the A320 family. Following Brexit, easyJet established easyJet Europe as an EU subsidiary to preserve its European route network. Pilots require a UK CAA / EASA ATPL.

Headquarters
Luton (United Kingdom)
Hub
Luton, Gatwick, Amsterdam and others
Alliance
None (independent)
Founded
1995
Fleet Size
~350 aircraft
Income Tax
Per each country's law (country of base)
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
¥23M–¥36M
¥27M Pre-tax
First Officer
Seniority-based
¥12.1M–¥19.8M
¥15M Seniority-based

Pay is GBP-denominated and quoted pre-tax for UK-based crew (GBP/JPY converted at 190 for UK bases); crew at EU bases are paid in EUR. First Officer pay follows a seniority-based system. Actual take-home pay varies significantly depending on the cost of living in the chosen base city.

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
¥3.6M–¥6.1M
est.
First Officer — Junior3–5 yrs
¥12.1M–¥15.6M
est.
First Officer — Mid6–10 yrs
¥14.3M–¥17.6M
est.
First Officer — Senior11–15 yrs
¥16.3M–¥19.8M
est.
Captain — New15–18 yrs
¥23M–¥28.9M
est.
Captain — Mid19–24 yrs
¥26.6M–¥32.4M
est.
Senior Captain25+ yrs
¥30.2M–¥36M
est.
Management / Instructor / ExaminerData wantedcrowd-sourced
Operations

Routes & Fleet

Routes

Operates from multiple bases — including London, Amsterdam, Geneva, Madrid and Milan — to destinations across the whole of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Specializes in short- and medium-haul routes.

Fleet

Airbus A321neo, A320neo, A320ceo and A319. Around 350 aircraft.

Training

Training & Checkrides

Type Rating (EASA-approved — note on cost sharing)

Conducted at EASA-approved ATOs. At LCCs, some contract structures require the pilot to bear part or all of the type-rating cost, so the terms should be confirmed.

LIFUS

Line training under a supervising instructor captain after obtaining the type rating. Because LCCs fly many short-haul sectors, pilots can build up their leg counts relatively quickly.

Recurrent Checks (OPC/LPC)

Checks are held once or twice a year in line with EASA standards. LCCs apply the same safety standards as full-service carriers.

Upgrade

Upgrade from First Officer to Captain typically requires a minimum of 4,000–5,000+ flight hours as a guideline. LCCs can also offer more frequent upgrade opportunities.

Benefits

Benefits & Perks

✈️
Staff Travel Discounts

Discounted or free travel on the airline's own flights. Often extended to group and partner airlines.

🏥
Medical Insurance

Basic medical insurance (in Europe, combined with the EHIC / public healthcare systems).

📈
Productivity Bonus

Duty pay or productivity bonuses, frequently linked to flight hours and sector (leg) counts.

📅
Paid Leave

A minimum of 20+ days in line with EU directives, in accordance with each country's law.

🏠
Base City Allowance

A duty allowance for working at the chosen base city (London, Madrid, etc.).

📊
Incentive Pay

Additional pay linked to flight hours and productivity. Peak seasons offer the chance to increase earnings.

Job Openings

Recruitment Info (as of March 2026)

Hiring status: Hiring continuously. Open to holders of a UK CAA / EASA ATPL.

Captain / First Officer (continuous recruitment)
European route flying. Choice of multiple bases.
Hiring continuously
Required license: UK CAA / EASA ATPL
English: ICAO Level 4 or above
Minimum flight hours: F/O: 500h+, Captain: 4,000h+ (guideline)
Type rating: A320 family (company may cover training costs in some cases)

Under the easyJet GenX program, some courses have the company cover the type-rating cost (conditions apply).

Comparison

easyJet vs Japan Majors

AirlineCaptain (range)First OfficerIncome Tax
easyJet 🇬🇧¥23M–¥36M¥12.1M–¥19.8MIncome 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 easyJet captain salary in 2026?

easyJet captain pay averages about ¥27M per year (range ¥23M–¥36M), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.

What is easyJet first officer salary?

easyJet first officer pay averages about ¥15M per year (range ¥12.1M–¥19.8M), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.

What are the requirements to become a easyJet pilot?

Captain / First Officer (continuous recruitment) — European route flying. Choice of multiple bases.. Key requirements — Required license: UK CAA / EASA ATPL; English: ICAO Level 4 or above; Minimum flight hours: F/O: 500h+, Captain: 4,000h+ (guideline); Type rating: A320 family (company may cover training costs in some cases). Under the easyJet GenX program, some courses have the company cover the type-rating cost (conditions apply).

How does easyJet pay compare to ANA or JAL?

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