LA
🇧🇷🇨🇱 South AmericaFSCIndependentNo.1 in South America

LATAM Airlines

LATAM Airlines — South America's largest airline group, integrating operations across six countries.

¥19M
Capt. Avg (pre-tax)
¥9.5M
FO Avg (pre-tax)
~310
Fleet Size
150+
Destinations
Overview

About LATAM Airlines

LATAM Airlines is South America's largest airline group, created by the 2012 merger of LAN (Chile) and TAM (Brazil). It holds regional operating companies in Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Paraguay, and serves destinations within South America as well as Europe, North America and Oceania. The group filed for protection under U.S. federal bankruptcy law in 2020 and completed its restructuring in 2022. The A320 family, together with the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, forms the backbone of the fleet.

Headquarters
Santiago, Chile
Hub
Santiago (SCL) / São Paulo (GRU)
Alliance
None (independent; former Oneworld member, since withdrawn)
Founded
2012 (merger of LAN and TAM)
Fleet Size
Approx. 310 aircraft
Income Tax
Applicable (varies by country)
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
¥12M–¥27M
¥19M Pre-tax
First Officer
Seniority-based
¥5.5M–¥15M
¥9.5M Seniority-based

Figures are converted at USD/JPY = 150. Foreign captains are generally paid in USD, while First Officers are typically paid in BRL or CLP, so the currency of payment and the applicable tax rate differ according to nationality and country of base. Terms reflect the conditions in place following the 2022 completion of restructuring.

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
¥5.5M–¥9.8M
est.
First Officer — Mid6–10 yrs
¥8.2M–¥12.3M
est.
First Officer — Senior11–15 yrs
¥10.7M–¥15M
est.
Captain — New15–18 yrs
¥12M–¥18.8M
est.
Captain — Mid19–24 yrs
¥16.2M–¥22.8M
est.
Senior Captain25+ yrs
¥20.3M–¥27M
est.
Management / Instructor / ExaminerData wantedcrowd-sourced
Operations

Routes & Fleet

Routes

From the Santiago and São Paulo hubs, LATAM serves the whole of South America as well as North America (Miami, New York and others), Europe (Madrid, London, Frankfurt and others) and Oceania (Sydney).

Fleet

Boeing 787-8/9, Airbus A350-900, A321neo, A320neo and A319. Approximately 310 aircraft.

Training

Training & Checkrides

Type Rating Training (ICAO / national authority approved)

Type rating training is conducted at training centers certified by the relevant national civil aviation authority (ANAC, Aerocivil, DGAC and others) or compliant with FAA/EASA standards.

LIFUS

After the type rating is obtained, line training is flown under the supervision of an instructor captain.

Recurrent Checks

A Proficiency Check is carried out once or twice a year, in accordance with each country's regulations.

Upgrade to Captain

Seniority-based progression is the norm. Flight hour requirements depend on the individual operating company and the applicable national regulations.

Benefits

Benefits & Perks

✈️
Staff Travel

Discounted travel privileges for the employee and family members, also usable on alliance partner airlines.

🏥
Medical Insurance

Medical insurance for the employee and family, combined with each country's public healthcare system.

💰
Bonus

Performance-linked bonus, paid once or twice a year.

📅
Paid Leave

15 to 25 days per year, in line with each country's labor law.

Job Openings

Recruitment Info (as of March 2026)

Hiring status: Hiring (following restructuring). Proven track record of hiring foreign pilots.

Captain / First Officer (Now Hiring)
International operations. Santiago / São Paulo based.
Now Hiring
License: ATPL (ICAO-compliant, certified by the relevant national authority)
English: ICAO Level 4 or above
Minimum Flight Hours: Captain: 5,000 hours or more (guideline)
Spanish: Recommended (for the Chilean / Colombian operations)

Note: Portuguese is used in Brazil and Spanish in Chile. A work permit must be obtained in accordance with each country's regulations.

Comparison

LATAM Airlines vs Japan Majors

AirlineCaptain (range)First OfficerIncome Tax
LATAM Airlines 🇧🇷¥12M–¥27M¥5.5M–¥15MIncome 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 LATAM Airlines captain salary in 2026?

LATAM Airlines captain pay averages about ¥19M per year (range ¥12M–¥27M), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.

What is LATAM Airlines first officer salary?

LATAM Airlines first officer pay averages about ¥9.5M per year (range ¥5.5M–¥15M), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.

What are the requirements to become a LATAM Airlines pilot?

Captain / First Officer (Now Hiring) — International operations. Santiago / São Paulo based.. Key requirements — License: ATPL (ICAO-compliant, certified by the relevant national authority); English: ICAO Level 4 or above; Minimum Flight Hours: Captain: 5,000 hours or more (guideline); Spanish: Recommended (for the Chilean / Colombian operations). Note: Portuguese is used in Brazil and Spanish in Chile. A work permit must be obtained in accordance with each country's regulations.

How does LATAM Airlines pay compare to ANA or JAL?

LATAM Airlines captains average ¥19M, versus roughly ¥27M at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.