JTA
🇯🇵 JapanJAL GroupFSCOneworld

Japan Transocean Air (JTA)

A JAL Group airline based in Okinawa, operating primarily on Okinawa routes with the Boeing 737-800.

¥20M
Capt. Avg (pre-tax)
¥13M
FO Avg (pre-tax)
B737-800
Main Fleet
1967
Founded (predecessor)
Overview

About Japan Transocean Air (JTA)

Japan Transocean Air (JTA) is a JAL Group airline founded in 1967 as Southwest Air Lines (Nansei Airlines). Based at Naha Airport, it operates routes connecting the main island of Okinawa with major cities on the Japanese mainland and Okinawa's outlying islands.

Operating the Boeing 737-800, it is known as a specialist in Okinawa routes. As a member of the JAL Group, it also belongs to the Oneworld alliance, playing a vital role in supporting Okinawa's tourism demand.

Headquarters
Naha, Okinawa Prefecture
Founded
1967 (predecessor: Southwest Air Lines)
Group
JAL Group
Hub
Naha Airport (OKA)
Fleet
B737-800
Retirement Age
65
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
¥18M–¥23M
¥20M Pre-tax
First Officer
Seniority-based
¥11M–¥15M
¥13M Seniority-based

All published figures are pre-tax estimates. Pilot pay is denominated in Japanese yen (JPY) and is subject to Japanese income tax and social insurance; convert to your home currency when comparing with overseas carriers.

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
¥3.3M–¥5.5M
est.
First Officer — Junior3–5 yrs
¥11M–¥12.8M
est.
First Officer — Mid6–10 yrs
¥12.1M–¥13.9M
est.
First Officer — Senior11–15 yrs
¥13.2M–¥15M
est.
Captain — New15–18 yrs
¥18M–¥20.3M
est.
Captain — Mid19–24 yrs
¥19.4M–¥21.6M
est.
Senior Captain25+ yrs
¥20.8M–¥23M
est.
Management / Instructor / ExaminerData wantedcrowd-sourced
Operations

Routes & Fleet

Routes

JTA's network centers on trunk routes linking Naha with Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and other mainland cities, together with Okinawa inter-island routes (Ishigaki, Miyako, Kumejima and others). It operates numerous codeshare flights with JAL and is responsible for key routes that support Okinawa's tourism demand.

Fleet

The Boeing 737-800 (166 seats) is the mainstay fleet, configured for domestic trunk operations and specialized in Okinawa routes.

Training

Training & Checkrides

B737 Type Rating Training

Type-rating training on the Boeing 737-800, following the JAL Group's training framework with ground school, simulator sessions and aircraft IOE (Initial Operating Experience).

JAL Group Safety Management

Training and quality-management programs aligned with the safety-management system of JAL mainline.

Captain Upgrade

Upgrade to B737-800 Captain after gaining First Officer experience, building trunk-route operating experience between Okinawa and the mainland.

JAL Secondment & Transfer

Opportunities for personnel exchange and secondment within the JAL Group, including a path to step up to larger aircraft.

Benefits

Benefits & Perks

✈️
JAL Group Travel Privileges

Discounted staff-fare ticket program across the JAL Group companies.

🌺
Okinawa Posting

Naha base. Life in Okinawa's warm climate and natural surroundings.

🏥
Medical Insurance

Enrollment in the health insurance association, with support for aviation medical examinations.

🏦
Retirement Benefits

Defined-contribution pension plus a lump-sum retirement allowance program.

📋
Loss-of-License Insurance

Coverage for the risk of losing your license in the course of duty.

🌐
Oneworld Benefits

Partner-airline mileage and privileges through Oneworld membership.

Job Openings

Recruitment Info (as of March 2026)

Hiring status: Refer to JAL Group careers page

Captain / First Officer (B737-800)
Okinawa routes. Naha-based.
Check official page
License: B737 type rating (ATPL/CPL + instrument rating)
Language: Japanese required; English ICAO Level 4 or above
Application: Via JAL Group careers page

Please confirm hiring details on the JAL Group careers page and the official JTA website.

Comparison

Japan Transocean Air (JTA) vs Japan Majors

AirlineCaptain (range)First OfficerIncome Tax
Japan Transocean Air (JTA) 🇯🇵¥18M–¥23M¥11M–¥15M~33% (Japan)
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 Japan Transocean Air (JTA) captain salary in 2026?

Japan Transocean Air (JTA) captain pay averages about ¥20M per year (range ¥18M–¥23M), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.

What is Japan Transocean Air (JTA) first officer salary?

Japan Transocean Air (JTA) first officer pay averages about ¥13M per year (range ¥11M–¥15M), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.

What are the requirements to become a Japan Transocean Air (JTA) pilot?

Captain / First Officer (B737-800) — Okinawa routes. Naha-based.. Key requirements — License: B737 type rating (ATPL/CPL + instrument rating); Language: Japanese required; English ICAO Level 4 or above; Application: Via JAL Group careers page. Please confirm hiring details on the JAL Group careers page and the official JTA website.

How does Japan Transocean Air (JTA) pay compare to ANA or JAL?

Japan Transocean Air (JTA) captains average ¥20M, versus roughly ¥27M at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.