HK Express Pilot Salary 2026 — Captain $128K

Q: What is HK Express captain salary in 2026?

HK Express captain pay averages about $128K per year (range $88K–$163K), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.

Q: What is HK Express first officer salary?

HK Express first officer pay averages about $72K per year (range $50K–$94K), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.

Q: How does HK Express pay compare to ANA or JAL?

HK Express captains average $128K, versus roughly $169K at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.

Q: What is the HK Express pilot pay scale?

HK Express first officers average $72K and captains $128K — a step of about $56K, or roughly 1.8×. The full range runs $50K to $163K, 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.

Overview

About HK Express

HK Express is a Hong Kong-based LCC owned by the Qatar Investment Authority (Qatar Airways Group). Operating A320 family exclusively across East Asia and SE Asia, including Japan (NRT/KIX/OKA). HK income tax is low (max 17%).

Hong Kong

Hub

Hong Kong Int'l Airport (HKG)

Owner

Qatar Airways Group (QIA)

Fleet

A320/A321neo

Founded

2004

Income Tax

Yes (HK, up to 17%)

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.

Position	Salary Range	Avg / Reference	Notes
Captain East & SE Asia routes	¥14M–¥26M	¥20.5M	Pre-tax
First Officer International	¥8M–¥15M	¥11.5M	Seniority-based

💡 HKD/JPY≈19. HK income tax max 17% — among the lowest in major cities. Note: HK living costs are high.

Career Ladder

Pay Scale 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 Stage	Years	Annual (pre-tax)	Source
Cadet / Trainee	≤2 yrs	¥3M–¥4.5M	est.
First Officer — Junior	3–5 yrs	¥8M–¥11.2M	est.
First Officer — Mid	6–10 yrs	¥10M–¥13M	est.
First Officer — Senior	11–15 yrs	¥11.9M–¥15M	est.
Captain — New	15–18 yrs	¥14M–¥19.4M	est.
Captain — Mid	19–24 yrs	¥17.4M–¥22.6M	est.
Senior Captain	25+ yrs	¥20.6M–¥26M	est.
Management / Instructor / Examiner	—	Data wanted	crowd-sourced

Operations

Routes & Fleet

Routes

HKG to Japan (NRT/KIX/OKA/FUK), Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam.

Fleet

A320/A321neo. ~30 aircraft.

Training

Training & Checkrides

Type Rating (LCC)

CAD Hong Kong-approved ATC. Ground → simulator → LIFUS.

Qatar Group Benefit

Part of Qatar Airways Group — potential access to group resources and network.

Recurrent Checks

OPC/LPC 1–2x per year per CAD HK.

Captain Upgrade

Vacancy + seniority based.

Benefits

Pilot Benefits & Allowances

🏙️

Hong Kong Base

Asia financial center. Low income tax (max 17%).

✈️

Qatar Group Benefit

Qatar Airways Group employee benefits access.

🏥

Health Insurance

Medical coverage.

📅

Annual Leave

Per HK labor law.

Job Openings

Pilot Hiring & Requirements (as of March 2026)

Hiring status: A320 type-rated pilots actively sought. Check official site.

Captain / First Officer — A320/A321

East Asia routes.

Check Official Page

License: ATPL (ICAO/CASL)

Type: A320 type preferred

HK Express Official Careers Page

Comparison

HK Express vs Japan Majors

Airline	Captain (range)	First Officer	Income Tax
HK Express 🇭🇰	¥14M–¥26M	¥8M–¥15M	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.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is HK Express captain salary in 2026?

HK Express captain pay averages about ¥20.5M per year (range ¥14M–¥26M), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.

What is HK Express first officer salary?

HK Express first officer pay averages about ¥11.5M per year (range ¥8M–¥15M), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.

What are the requirements to become a HK Express pilot?

Captain / First Officer — A320/A321 — East Asia routes.. Key requirements — License: ATPL (ICAO/CASL); Type: A320 type preferred.

How does HK Express pay compare to ANA or JAL?

HK Express captains average ¥20.5M, versus roughly ¥27M at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.

What is HK Express pilot salary per month?

Dividing the annual average by 12, HK Express captains earn about ¥1.71M a month and first officers about ¥0.96M. 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 HK Express pilot pay scale?

HK Express first officers average ¥11.5M and captains ¥20.5M — a step of about ¥9M, or roughly 1.8×. The full range runs ¥8M to ¥26M, 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.

Is HK Express pilot salary before or after tax?

Every figure on this page is gross, before income tax. Captains average ¥20.5M and first officers ¥11.5M 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.