AZ
🇮🇹 ItalySkyTeam (Associate)FSCRestructuring

ITA Airways

ITA Airways — Italy's state-owned flag carrier and successor to the former Alitalia.

¥21.5M
Capt. Avg (pre-tax)
¥11.2M
FO Avg (pre-tax)
~80
Fleet Size
75+
Destinations
Overview

About ITA Airways

ITA Airways is Italy's state-owned flag carrier, established in 2021 as the successor to Alitalia, which had collapsed into bankruptcy. From its hub at Rome–Fiumicino, it serves Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa. Negotiations for its sale to the Lufthansa Group were concluded in 2024, with full subsidiary ownership planned. It is an associate member of SkyTeam, and its main fleet is built around the A320 family, A330, and A350.

Headquarters
Rome, Italy
Hub
Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
Alliance
SkyTeam (Associate)
Founded
2021 (ITA Airways)
Fleet Size
~80 aircraft
Income Tax
Yes (up to 43%)
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
¥18.9M–¥25M
¥21.5M Pre-tax
First Officer
Seniority-based
¥7.8M–¥14.6M
¥11.2M Seniority-based

Pilot pay is denominated in EUR and quoted pre-tax, on a seniority-based pay system; a EUR/JPY rate of 163 is used for conversion. Italian income tax reaches up to 43%. Compensation terms may change following ITA's integration into the Lufthansa Group.

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
¥7.8M–¥10.9M
est.
First Officer — Mid6–10 yrs
¥9.7M–¥12.7M
est.
First Officer — Senior11–15 yrs
¥11.5M–¥14.6M
est.
Captain — New15–18 yrs
¥18.9M–¥21.6M
est.
Captain — Mid19–24 yrs
¥20.6M–¥23.3M
est.
Senior Captain25+ yrs
¥22.3M–¥25M
est.
Management / Instructor / ExaminerData wantedcrowd-sourced
Operations

Routes & Fleet

Routes

From its Rome hub, ITA Airways serves North America (New York, Miami, etc.), Asia (Tokyo, Shanghai, Bangkok, etc.), Africa, and destinations across Europe as well as domestic routes.

Fleet

Airbus A350-900, A330-200/900neo, A321neo, A320neo, and A319. Approximately 80 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 obtaining the type rating, Line Flying Under Supervision is conducted with an instructor captain on board. Typically around 50–80 legs (compliant 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 the respective 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 flight tickets for pilots and their families. Also usable on alliance partner carriers.

🏥
Medical Insurance

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

💰
Bonus

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

📅
Paid Leave

25–35 days per year. Generous leave under European labor law (EU directives).

🏦
Retirement & Corporate Pension

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

🌐
Layover Allowance

Accommodation and per-diem paid during overseas stays. High-cost-area allowances tend to be higher in major European cities.

Job Openings

Recruitment Info (as of March 2026)

Hiring status: Hiring — note that terms may change after integration into the Lufthansa Group.

Captain & First Officer (Regular Intake)
International flights. Based at Rome FCO.
Hiring
Required License: EASA ATPL (ENAC-certified)
English: ICAO Level 4 or above
Minimum Flight Hours: Captain 5,000h+
Italian: Conversational level recommended

Integration into the Lufthansa Group is underway across 2024–2025; terms may change.

Comparison

ITA Airways vs Japan Majors

AirlineCaptain (range)First OfficerIncome Tax
ITA Airways 🇮🇹¥18.9M–¥25M¥7.8M–¥14.6MIncome 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 ITA Airways captain salary in 2026?

ITA Airways captain pay averages about ¥21.5M per year (range ¥18.9M–¥25M), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.

What is ITA Airways first officer salary?

ITA Airways first officer pay averages about ¥11.2M per year (range ¥7.8M–¥14.6M), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.

What are the requirements to become a ITA Airways pilot?

Captain & First Officer (Regular Intake) — International flights. Based at Rome FCO.. Key requirements — Required License: EASA ATPL (ENAC-certified); English: ICAO Level 4 or above; Minimum Flight Hours: Captain 5,000h+; Italian: Conversational level recommended. Integration into the Lufthansa Group is underway across 2024–2025; terms may change.

How does ITA Airways pay compare to ANA or JAL?

ITA Airways captains average ¥21.5M, versus roughly ¥27M at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.