ITA Airways — Italy's state-owned flag carrier and successor to the former Alitalia.
An ITA Airways captain earns an average of $135K per year, typically $119K–$157K. First officers average $70K ($49K–$92K). Figures are gross annual pay, before tax. Figures are as of March 2026.
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.
* 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 |
$119K–$157K |
$135K | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
$49K–$92K |
$70K | 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.
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 | $19K–$28K | est. |
| First Officer — Junior | 3–5 yrs | $49K–$69K | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | $61K–$80K | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | $72K–$92K | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | $119K–$136K | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | $130K–$147K | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | $140K–$157K | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
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.
Airbus A350-900, A330-200/900neo, A321neo, A320neo, and A319. Approximately 80 aircraft.
Type rating obtained at an EASA-certified Approved Training Organization (ATO). Ground school → simulator (including MCC) → LIFUS.
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).
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 training follows a period as SFO / Senior F/O. Additional qualifications such as LVP (Low Visibility Procedures), PBN, ETOPS, and RVSM are also obtained.
Heavily discounted or free flight tickets for pilots and their families. Also usable on alliance partner carriers.
High-standard European medical insurance. Loss-of-license insurance is also common.
Performance-linked bonuses (equivalent to 2–4 months' pay per year). In some cases tied to performance reviews.
25–35 days per year. Generous leave under European labor law (EU directives).
Defined-benefit or defined-contribution corporate pension (DBP/DCP). In Europe this sits alongside the public pension in a two-tier structure.
Accommodation and per-diem paid during overseas stays. High-cost-area allowances tend to be higher in major European cities.
Hiring status: Hiring — note that terms may change after integration into the Lufthansa Group.
Integration into the Lufthansa Group is underway across 2024–2025; terms may change.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| ITA Airways 🇮🇹 | $119K–$157K | $49K–$92K | Income tax applies |
| ANA 🇯🇵 | $138K–$220K | $88K–$132K | ~33% (Japan) |
| JAL 🇯🇵 | $138K–$220K | $88K–$132K | ~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.
ITA Airways captain pay averages about $135K per year (range $119K–$157K), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
ITA Airways first officer pay averages about $70K per year (range $49K–$92K), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
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.
ITA Airways captains average $135K, versus roughly $170K at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.
Dividing the annual average by 12, ITA Airways captains earn about $11K a month and first officers about $5.9K. 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.
ITA Airways first officers average $70K and captains $135K — a step of about $65K, or roughly 1.9×. The full range runs $49K to $157K, 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 $135K and first officers $70K 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 Italy 1 airline · captain avg $135K