Virgin Atlantic — the aviation arm of the Virgin Group, and a SkyTeam member.
Virgin Atlantic is a premium airline founded in 1984 by Richard Branson. With hubs at London Heathrow and Gatwick, it serves North America, the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, and joined SkyTeam in 2023. Championing the idea of an "airline for people who love to fly," it places particular emphasis on the onboard experience and the diversity of its crew, operating an efficient fleet built around the A350 and B787.
* 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 |
¥28.3M–¥46M |
¥36M | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
¥15.1M–¥24.2M |
¥19.2M | Seniority-based |
Salaries are quoted pre-tax and denominated in GBP, on a seniority-based scale (converted at GBP/JPY = 190). UK income tax applies at a top marginal rate of 45%. Against the backdrop of a pilot shortage, the airline has been stepping up its recruitment.
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 | ¥4.5M–¥7.6M | est. |
| First Officer — Junior | 3–5 yrs | ¥15.1M–¥19.2M | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | ¥17.6M–¥21.7M | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | ¥20.1M–¥24.2M | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | ¥28.3M–¥36.3M | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | ¥33.3M–¥41M | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | ¥38M–¥46M | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
From London, the airline serves North America (New York, Los Angeles, Miami, etc.), the Caribbean, Africa (Lagos, Nairobi, etc.) and India. Its route network is more selectively curated than British Airways'.
Airbus A350-1000 and Boeing 787-9. Around 37 aircraft, specializing in highly efficient twin-engine types.
Type rating obtained at an EASA-certified Approved Training Organization (ATO). Ground school → simulator (including MCC) → LIFUS.
After the type rating is completed, Line Flying Under Supervision is conducted with a training captain aboard — typically around 50–80 sectors (in accordance with EASA FCL.060).
One to two Proficiency Checks (PC) per year, per EASA FCL.625/735 standards. Supervised by the relevant national CAAs (UK CAA, 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 tickets for employees and their families, also usable on alliance partner carriers.
High-standard European medical insurance. Loss-of-license insurance is also common.
Performance-linked bonus (equivalent to 2–4 months' pay per year), in some cases tied to individual performance reviews.
25–35 days per year — a generous leave system underpinned by European labor law (EU directives).
A defined-benefit or defined-contribution company pension (DB/DC). In Europe this sits atop the state pension in a two-tier structure.
Accommodation and per-diem paid for overseas stays. Higher cost-of-living allowances apply in major European cities.
As part of the Virgin Group culture, diverse hiring is prioritized, with an LGBTQ-friendly workplace.
Hiring status: Regular intake underway. Open to UK CAA ATPL holders; A350 or B787 type-rating holders preferred.
Virgin is known for its unconventional hiring process, valuing individuality and a service-minded spirit.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Atlantic 🇬🇧 | ¥28.3M–¥46M | ¥15.1M–¥24.2M | Income 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.
Virgin Atlantic captain pay averages about ¥36M per year (range ¥28.3M–¥46M), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
Virgin Atlantic first officer pay averages about ¥19.2M per year (range ¥15.1M–¥24.2M), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
Captain / First Officer (regular intake) — International operations. London-based.. Key requirements — License / Rating: UK CAA ATPL (or converted from EASA); English: ICAO Level 4 or above; Min. Flight Hours: Captain 5,000h+; Type Rating: A350/B787 preferred. Virgin is known for its unconventional hiring process, valuing individuality and a service-minded spirit.
Virgin Atlantic captains average ¥36M, versus roughly ¥27M at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.
Dividing the annual average by 12, Virgin Atlantic captains earn about ¥3M a month and first officers about ¥1.6M. 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.
Virgin Atlantic first officers average ¥19.2M and captains ¥36M — a step of about ¥16.8M, or roughly 1.9×. The full range runs ¥15.1M to ¥46M, 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 ¥36M and first officers ¥19.2M 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 the UK 4 airlines · captain avg ¥2,930万