IB
🇪🇸 SpainOneworld (IAG)FSCNo.1 Latin America Routes

Iberia

Iberia — Spain's flag carrier · Oneworld member (IAG).

¥26M
Capt. Avg (pre-tax)
¥13.8M
FO Avg (pre-tax)
~125
Fleet Size
150+
Destinations
Overview

About Iberia

Founded in 1927, Iberia is Spain's flag carrier. From its hub at Madrid-Barajas, it serves Europe, the Americas (more than 20 cities across North, Central, and South America), North Africa, and the Middle East. It belongs to the Oneworld alliance and the IAG (International Airlines Group). Its Latin America network in particular ranks among the largest in the world. Spain's income tax reaches a maximum of 47%. The A320 family and the A350 form the backbone of its fleet.

Headquarters
Madrid, Spain
Hub
Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Alliance
Oneworld (IAG)
Founded
1927
Fleet Size
~125 aircraft
Income Tax
Yes (up to 47%)
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
¥21.5M–¥34M
¥26M Pre-tax
First Officer
Seniority-based
¥10M–¥18.9M
¥13.8M Seniority-based

Pay is denominated in EUR and quoted pre-tax, and progresses on a seniority-based pay scale. Spain applies a progressive income tax reaching a maximum of 47%. Yen figures shown on the site are converted at EUR/JPY = 163. Madrid offers a relatively lower cost of living than many other major European cities.

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–¥5M
est.
First Officer — Junior3–5 yrs
¥10M–¥14M
est.
First Officer — Mid6–10 yrs
¥12.5M–¥16.4M
est.
First Officer — Senior11–15 yrs
¥14.9M–¥18.9M
est.
Captain — New15–18 yrs
¥21.5M–¥27.1M
est.
Captain — Mid19–24 yrs
¥25M–¥30.5M
est.
Senior Captain25+ yrs
¥28.4M–¥34M
est.
Management / Instructor / ExaminerData wantedcrowd-sourced
Operations

Routes & Fleet

Routes

From its Madrid hub, Iberia serves Latin America (more than 20 cities including Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Lima, and São Paulo), North America, all of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

Fleet

Airbus A350-900, A330-200/300, A321neo, A320neo, A319. About 125 aircraft.

Training

Training & Checkrides

Type Rating (EASA-approved ATO)

Type rating obtained at an EASA-certified Approved Training Organization (ATO). Ground school → simulator (including MCC) → LIFUS.

LIFUS (Line Training)

After earning the type rating, pilots fly Line Flying Under Supervision alongside an instructor captain — typically around 50–80 legs (in line with EASA FCL.060).

Recurrent Checks (OPC/LPC)

Proficiency Checks (PC) held once or twice a year, to EASA FCL.625/735 standards. Overseen by national CAAs (CAA UK, DGAC, LBA, etc.).

Captain Upgrade & Additional Ratings

Captain training follows a period as SFO / Senior F/O. Additional qualifications such as LVP (Low Visibility Procedures), PBN, ETOPS, and RVSM are also obtained.

Benefits

Benefits & Perks

✈️
Staff Travel

Heavily discounted or free flights for employees and their families. Also usable on alliance partner airlines.

🏥
Medical Insurance

High-standard European medical insurance. Loss-of-license insurance is also common.

💰
Bonus

Performance-linked bonus (equivalent to 2–4 months' pay per year). In some cases tied to individual performance reviews.

📅
Paid Leave

25–35 days per year — a generous leave system backed by European labor law (EU directives).

🏦
Retirement & Corporate Pension

Defined-benefit or defined-contribution corporate pension (DBP/DCP). In Europe this operates alongside the public pension in a two-tier structure.

🌐
Layover Allowance

Accommodation and per diems paid for overseas stays. High-cost-area allowances tend to be higher for major European cities.

Job Openings

Recruitment Info (as of March 2026)

Hiring status: Recruiting on a regular basis. Open to EASA ATPL holders. Spanish-language ability is an advantage.

Captain & First Officer (Regular Intake)
International operations. Madrid-based.
Recruiting
License: EASA ATPL (AESA-issued)
English: ICAO Level 4 or above
Minimum Flight Hours: 5,000h+ for Captain
Spanish: Conversational to business level recommended

Transfer and hiring opportunities also exist within the IAG group (British Airways, Vueling, etc.).

Comparison

Iberia vs Japan Majors

AirlineCaptain (range)First OfficerIncome Tax
Iberia 🇪🇸¥21.5M–¥34M¥10M–¥18.9MIncome 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 Iberia captain salary in 2026?

Iberia captain pay averages about ¥26M per year (range ¥21.5M–¥34M), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.

What is Iberia first officer salary?

Iberia first officer pay averages about ¥13.8M per year (range ¥10M–¥18.9M), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.

What are the requirements to become a Iberia pilot?

Captain & First Officer (Regular Intake) — International operations. Madrid-based.. Key requirements — License: EASA ATPL (AESA-issued); English: ICAO Level 4 or above; Minimum Flight Hours: 5,000h+ for Captain; Spanish: Conversational to business level recommended. Transfer and hiring opportunities also exist within the IAG group (British Airways, Vueling, etc.).

How does Iberia pay compare to ANA or JAL?

Iberia captains average ¥26M, versus roughly ¥27M at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.