Fiji Airways — Fiji's flag carrier and the gateway to the South Pacific.
Fiji Airways is the flag carrier of Fiji. Operating from its hub in Nadi, it serves Australia, New Zealand, North America, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and other markets, and plays an important role as the South Pacific's tourism hub. The airline has a track record of hiring foreign pilots. It runs a simple fleet built around the A350 and the B737. The appeal lies in Fiji's low tax burden and the lifestyle that only an island nation can offer.
* Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks. Verify actual compensation with each airline's official recruitment information.
| Position | Salary Range | Avg / Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain International widebody |
¥14M–¥24M |
¥17M | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
¥8M–¥16M |
¥10.5M | Seniority-based |
Figures are reference values based on publicly available data and industry benchmarks; confirm actual terms with the airline's own recruitment materials. Yen conversions use USD/JPY = 150. Foreign pilots are typically engaged on special expatriate contracts denominated in USD, with First Officer packages quoted in USD or Fijian dollars (FJD). Fiji levies income tax, but the cost of living is low and the South Pacific island lifestyle is a major part of the overall package.
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 Stage | Years | Annual (pre-tax) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cadet / Trainee | ≤2 yrs | ¥3M–¥4.5M | est. |
| First Officer — Junior | 3–5 yrs | ¥8M–¥11.6M | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | ¥10.2M–¥13.8M | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | ¥12.4M–¥16M | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | ¥14M–¥18.5M | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | ¥16.8M–¥21.2M | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | ¥19.5M–¥24M | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
From its Nadi hub, Fiji Airways serves Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and others), New Zealand (Auckland), North America (Los Angeles, San Francisco), Japan (Narita, Kansai), as well as Hong Kong, Singapore and other destinations.
Airbus A350-900, Boeing 737-800 / MAX 8. Approximately 15 aircraft.
Type rating training at a training center accredited by CASA (Australia) or the CAA New Zealand. Conducted at OEM centers or on the airline's own simulators.
After obtaining the type rating, line training flown alongside an instructor captain. Typically around 50 to 80 legs.
Proficiency checks one to two times per year, in compliance with the civil aviation regulations of each relevant authority.
Seniority-based as a rule. Once the CASA / CAA NZ requirements are met, the upgrade is granted following an internal assessment.
Fiji's beautiful ocean, nature and island culture. An attractive living environment even when relocating with family.
Discounted travel privileges for the pilot and their family.
Medical insurance for foreign pilots. A housing allowance is also common.
Foreign-pilot contracts are generally denominated in USD, which keeps foreign-exchange risk low.
Hiring status: Proven track record of hiring foreign Captains and First Officers. A350 or B737 type rating holders are preferred.
In Fiji, the tourism and aviation industries are closely intertwined. The airline also operates Japan routes, which gives it a natural affinity for Japanese pilots.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiji Airways 🇫🇯 | ¥14M–¥24M | ¥8M–¥16M | Income 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.
Fiji Airways captain pay averages about ¥17M per year (range ¥14M–¥24M), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
Fiji Airways first officer pay averages about ¥10.5M per year (range ¥8M–¥16M), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
Captain / First Officer (Foreign Pilot Recruitment) — International operations. Nadi-based.. Key requirements — License: ATPL (ICAO-compliant); English: ICAO Level 4 or above; Min. Flight Hours: Captain 4,500h+ (guideline); Contract: Fixed-term contract (2–3 years), USD-denominated. In Fiji, the tourism and aviation industries are closely intertwined. The airline also operates Japan routes, which gives it a natural affinity for Japanese pilots.
Fiji Airways captains average ¥17M, versus roughly ¥27M at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.
Dividing the annual average by 12, Fiji Airways captains earn about ¥1.42M a month and first officers about ¥0.88M. 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.
Fiji Airways first officers average ¥10.5M and captains ¥17M — a step of about ¥6.5M, or roughly 1.6×. The full range runs ¥8M to ¥24M, and where you sit inside it is set by seniority, type rating and the routes you fly. The seniority table on this page breaks the same range into career stages.
Every figure on this page is gross, before income tax. Captains average ¥17M and first officers ¥10.5M 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.
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Pilot salary in Fiji 1 airline · captain avg ¥1,700万