MS
🇪🇬 EgyptStar AllianceFSCAfrica & Middle East

EgyptAir

EgyptAir — Egypt's state-owned flag carrier and a member of Star Alliance.

¥15.5M
Capt. Avg (pre-tax)
¥8.5M
FO Avg (pre-tax)
~70
Fleet Size
75+ cities
Destination Cities
Overview

About EgyptAir

Founded in 1932, EgyptAir is one of the oldest airlines in the world. From its hub in Cairo it serves Europe, Asia, Africa and North America, and it is a member of Star Alliance. The Egyptian pound (EGP) has continued to fall sharply, and as a result the real value of pay under local contracts has declined. Foreign pilots are in some cases hired on special USD-denominated contracts. The fleet is built around the B787, A220 and B737.

Headquarters
Cairo, Egypt
Hub
Cairo International Airport (CAI)
Alliance
Star Alliance
Founded
1932
Fleet Size
Approx. 70 aircraft
Income Tax
Yes (top rate 25%)
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
¥12.5M–¥19M
¥15.5M Pre-tax
First Officer
Seniority-based
¥6.5M–¥10.5M
¥8.5M Seniority-based

Foreign pilots are typically engaged on USD-denominated contracts, while local crew are paid in a mix of EGP and USD. For local pilots, the real value of EGP-denominated pay continues to erode under currency depreciation. A housing allowance is provided separately. Yen equivalents are converted at USD/JPY = 150.

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
¥3M–¥4.5M
est.
First Officer — Junior3–5 yrs
¥6.5M–¥8.3M
est.
First Officer — Mid6–10 yrs
¥7.6M–¥9.4M
est.
First Officer — Senior11–15 yrs
¥8.7M–¥10.5M
est.
Captain — New15–18 yrs
¥12.5M–¥15.4M
est.
Captain — Mid19–24 yrs
¥14.3M–¥17.2M
est.
Senior Captain25+ yrs
¥16.1M–¥19M
est.
Management / Instructor / ExaminerData wantedcrowd-sourced
Operations

Routes & Fleet

Routes

From the Cairo hub, EgyptAir serves Europe (London, Paris, Frankfurt and others), North America (New York, Los Angeles and others), Asia (Tokyo, Beijing, Bangkok and others), as well as destinations across Africa and the Middle East.

Fleet

Boeing 787-9, B737-800, Airbus A220-300, A320/A321neo. Approximately 70 aircraft.

Training

Training & Checkrides

Type Rating Training (ICAO Standards)

Type rating training is conducted at facilities approved by the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) or at OEM training centers.

LIFUS

Line training follows once the type rating is obtained.

Recurrent Checks

OPC/LPC once or twice a year, in accordance with ICAO Annex 1/6.

Upgrade to Captain

Upgrade to Captain is filled primarily through in-house progression, and EgyptAir also has a track record of hiring foreign captains directly.

Benefits

Benefits & Perks

✈️
Staff Travel

Discounted or free tickets for the pilot and family. Partner carriers, including Star Alliance members, can also be used.

🏥
Medical Insurance

Medical cover for the pilot and family.

🌍
Expatriate Allowances

Housing allowance and cost-of-living support for foreign pilots. USD-denominated contracts are common.

📅
Paid Leave

20–30 days per year. Crew on long-haul routes also receive recovery days.

Job Openings

Recruitment Info (as of March 2026)

Hiring status: EgyptAir has a track record of hiring foreign pilots. Candidates holding a B787 or A320-family type rating are given preference.

Captain / First Officer (Foreign Pilot Hiring)
International operations. Cairo-based.
Ad-hoc recruitment
License: ATPL (ICAO-compliant, ECAA-approved)
English: ICAO Level 4 or above
Min. Flight Hours: Captain 4,500h+ (guideline)
Contract: Fixed-term contract (2–3 years)

Cairo has a low cost of living, so USD-denominated income carries high real purchasing power. The tourism and cultural environment is another draw.

Comparison

EgyptAir vs Japan Majors

AirlineCaptain (range)First OfficerIncome Tax
EgyptAir 🇪🇬¥12.5M–¥19M¥6.5M–¥10.5MIncome 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 EgyptAir captain salary in 2026?

EgyptAir captain pay averages about ¥15.5M per year (range ¥12.5M–¥19M), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.

What is EgyptAir first officer salary?

EgyptAir first officer pay averages about ¥8.5M per year (range ¥6.5M–¥10.5M), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.

What are the requirements to become a EgyptAir pilot?

Captain / First Officer (Foreign Pilot Hiring) — International operations. Cairo-based.. Key requirements — License: ATPL (ICAO-compliant, ECAA-approved); English: ICAO Level 4 or above; Min. Flight Hours: Captain 4,500h+ (guideline); Contract: Fixed-term contract (2–3 years). Cairo has a low cost of living, so USD-denominated income carries high real purchasing power. The tourism and cultural environment is another draw.

How does EgyptAir pay compare to ANA or JAL?

EgyptAir captains average ¥15.5M, versus roughly ¥27M at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.