Porter Airlines — Canada's premium LCC, transitioning from the Embraer fleet to the A220.
An Porter Airlines captain earns an average of $170K per year, typically $145K–$201K. First officers average $85K ($63K–$107K). Figures are gross annual pay, before tax. Figures are as of March 2026.
Porter Airlines is a Canadian premium LCC based at Toronto's Billy Bishop Airport. Through a sweeping fleet renewal away from its traditional E175s, the carrier has adopted the A220-300 and is expanding its network across domestic Canada, the U.S. East Coast, the Caribbean and Mexico. It differentiates itself with a distinctive service aimed at business travelers, offering complimentary snacks, beer and wine. The airline is growing rapidly and hiring is active.
* 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 |
$145K–$201K |
$170K | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
$63K–$107K |
$85K | Seniority-based |
Pay is denominated in Canadian dollars (CAD) and quoted pre-tax; JPY figures on this site are converted at CAD/JPY = 110. Captain pay reflects domestic and international flying on the A220/E175, while First Officer pay follows a seniority-based system. The airline is in a rapid growth phase, so the hiring pace is fast. Figures published on this site are reference values based on public data and industry norms — confirm actual compensation terms via the airline's official recruitment information.
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–$31K | est. |
| First Officer — Junior | 3–5 yrs | $63K–$83K | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | $75K–$94K | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | $87K–$107K | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | $145K–$170K | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | $160K–$186K | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | $176K–$201K | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
Operates from the Toronto hub to major Canadian cities (Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and others) as well as the U.S. East Coast, Florida, the Caribbean and Mexico. The network is expanding on the back of the A220 introduction.
Airbus A220-300 and Embraer E175. Approximately 80 aircraft, with further orders on backlog.
Type rating training at an FAA-certified ATO (Approved Training Organization), using Part 142 training centers such as CAE and FlightSafety. The sequence runs ground school → simulator → LOFT.
After the type rating is issued, Initial Operating Experience is flown alongside an instructor captain (Check Airman). Typically around 25 to 50 legs.
A Proficiency Check (PC) or Line Operational Evaluation (LOE) once or twice a year, conducted in accordance with FAA Part 121/135.
Seniority-based as a rule. Candidates must meet the required flight hours (normally 5,000–8,000 hours or more) and pass a check ride with a Check Airman. An R-ATP (1,500-hour) pathway is available.
Pass travel for the employee and family — free or heavily discounted travel on the airline's own flights and with partner carriers.
Comprehensive medical coverage for the employee and family. Loss-of-license insurance is also common.
A defined-contribution retirement plan (401(k)) with company matching. Matching of up to 5–16% is common.
Roughly 15–30 days per year, increasing with seniority. Flexible leave options such as flips and skips are available.
A daily allowance for flying days (roughly $2–4 per hour). Rates differ between domestic and international operations.
Additional allowances and accommodation expenses for crew operating international routes.
Hiring status: Hiring is ramping up. Open to holders of a Transport Canada ATP.
Hiring has surged with the introduction of the A220-300. Being in a growth phase, upgrade opportunities are also plentiful.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porter Airlines 🇨🇦 | $145K–$201K | $63K–$107K | 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.
Porter Airlines captain pay averages about $170K per year (range $145K–$201K), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
Porter Airlines first officer pay averages about $85K per year (range $63K–$107K), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
Captain / First Officer (Actively Recruiting) — Domestic and international flying. Toronto-based.. Key requirements — Required License: Transport Canada ATPL; English: ICAO Level 4 or above; Minimum Flight Hours: 4,500+ hours for Captain (guideline); Work Eligibility: Canadian citizenship / permanent residency / work permit. Hiring has surged with the introduction of the A220-300. Being in a growth phase, upgrade opportunities are also plentiful.
Porter Airlines captains average $170K, versus roughly $170K at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.
Dividing the annual average by 12, Porter Airlines captains earn about $14K a month and first officers about $7.1K. 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.
Porter Airlines first officers average $85K and captains $170K — a step of about $85K, or roughly 2.0×. The full range runs $63K to $201K, 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 $170K and first officers $85K 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 Canada 3 airlines · captain avg $198K