JQ
🇦🇺 AustraliaLCCQantas GroupAsia-Pacific

Jetstar Airways (Jetstar)

Jetstar Airways — the Qantas Group's low-cost carrier, operating across the Asia-Pacific.

¥24M
Capt. Avg (pre-tax)
¥13.5M
FO Avg (pre-tax)
~90
Fleet Size
60+
Destinations
Overview

About Jetstar Airways (Jetstar)

Jetstar is a low-cost carrier established by the Qantas Group in 2004. It operates Australian domestic routes and Asia-Pacific services at low fares. In Japan, it is run as Jetstar Japan, a separate company. With group carriers spread across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan and Vietnam, Jetstar forms one of the largest LCC networks in the Asia-Pacific. The A320 family and the B787 are its mainstay aircraft.

Headquarters
Melbourne, Australia
Hub
Melbourne (MEL) / Sydney (SYD)
Alliance
Qantas Group (Oneworld-affiliated)
Founded
2004
Fleet
Approx. 90 aircraft
Income Tax
Applicable (top rate 45%)
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
¥19M–¥31M
¥24M Pre-tax
First Officer
Seniority-based
¥9.5M–¥17.5M
¥13.5M Seniority-based

Figures published here are reference values based on publicly available data and prevailing industry levels; confirm actual pay conditions with each airline's own recruitment information. Pay is denominated in AUD and quoted pre-tax, converted at AUD/JPY = 98. Captain pay is benchmarked against industry standards, while First Officer pay progresses under a seniority system. Transfer opportunities within the Qantas Group are also available.

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–¥4.8M
est.
First Officer — Junior3–5 yrs
¥9.5M–¥13.1M
est.
First Officer — Mid6–10 yrs
¥11.7M–¥15.3M
est.
First Officer — Senior11–15 yrs
¥13.9M–¥17.5M
est.
Captain — New15–18 yrs
¥19M–¥24.4M
est.
Captain — Mid19–24 yrs
¥22.4M–¥27.6M
est.
Senior Captain25+ yrs
¥25.6M–¥31M
est.
Management / Instructor / ExaminerData wantedcrowd-sourced
Operations

Routes & Fleet

Routes

Operating from the Melbourne and Sydney hubs, Jetstar serves Australian domestic routes plus New Zealand, Asia (Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and others) and the Pacific island nations.

Fleet

Boeing 787-8, Airbus A321 and A320. Approximately 90 aircraft.

Training

Training & Checkrides

Type Rating Training (CASA / CAA NZ approved)

Type rating training at a training center accredited by CASA (Australia) or the CAA New Zealand, using OEM centers or the airline's own simulators.

LIFUS

After the type rating is obtained, line training is flown with an instructor captain on board — typically around 50 to 80 legs.

Recurrent Checks (OPC / LPC)

Proficiency Checks once or twice a year, in accordance with each country's civil aviation regulations.

Upgrade to Captain

Fundamentally seniority-based. Once the CASA / CAA NZ requirements are met, upgrade follows an internal assessment.

Benefits

Benefits & Perks

✈️
Staff Travel

Discounted or free travel privileges for the pilot and family, including partner carriers within the alliance.

🏥
Medical Insurance

Private medical insurance (including dental) on top of the public healthcare systems of Australia and New Zealand (Medicare / ACC).

💰
Superannuation (Retirement Pension)

Australia: Superannuation (statutory contributions of 11% or more); New Zealand: KiwiSaver. A generous retirement savings framework.

📅
Paid Leave

20 to 25 days per year, in line with Australian and New Zealand labor law.

💵
Per Diem

Daily allowances while on duty, differing between domestic and international operations.

🌏
Route Variety

Diverse flying opportunities across the South Pacific, Asia, Europe and North America as well as within Oceania.

🦘
Qantas Group Privileges

Staff travel benefits on Qantas flights, with access to training facilities across the group.

Job Openings

Recruitment Info (as of March 2026)

Hiring status: Recruiting on a regular cycle. Open to holders of a CASA ATPL. Australian work authorization is required.

Captain / First Officer (Regular Recruitment)
Domestic and international flying. Melbourne / Sydney base.
Now Hiring
License required: CASA ATPL
English: ICAO Level 4 or above
Minimum flight hours: 4,500+ hours for Captain (guideline)
Work eligibility: Australian citizenship / permanent residency / work visa

Internal advancement within the Qantas Group may open the possibility of transferring to Qantas mainline.

Comparison

Jetstar Airways (Jetstar) vs Japan Majors

AirlineCaptain (range)First OfficerIncome Tax
Jetstar Airways (Jetstar) 🇦🇺¥19M–¥31M¥9.5M–¥17.5MIncome 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 Jetstar Airways (Jetstar) captain salary in 2026?

Jetstar Airways (Jetstar) captain pay averages about ¥24M per year (range ¥19M–¥31M), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.

What is Jetstar Airways (Jetstar) first officer salary?

Jetstar Airways (Jetstar) first officer pay averages about ¥13.5M per year (range ¥9.5M–¥17.5M), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.

What are the requirements to become a Jetstar Airways (Jetstar) pilot?

Captain / First Officer (Regular Recruitment) — Domestic and international flying. Melbourne / Sydney base.. Key requirements — License required: CASA ATPL; English: ICAO Level 4 or above; Minimum flight hours: 4,500+ hours for Captain (guideline); Work eligibility: Australian citizenship / permanent residency / work visa. Internal advancement within the Qantas Group may open the possibility of transferring to Qantas mainline.

How does Jetstar Airways (Jetstar) pay compare to ANA or JAL?

Jetstar Airways (Jetstar) captains average ¥24M, versus roughly ¥27M at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.