WestJet Airlines — Canada's second-largest carrier, transitioning away from its low-cost origins.
WestJet Airlines is Canada's second-largest airline. From its hub in Calgary it serves destinations across Canada as well as the United States, the Caribbean, Mexico and Europe. The carrier was once oriented toward the low-cost model, but with the introduction of the Boeing 787 it has moved into long-haul routes and premium service as well. It also owns the ultra-low-cost subsidiary Swoop. Following extensive restructuring during the COVID-19 crisis of 2020–2022, the airline has since recovered.
* 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 |
¥26M–¥44M |
¥34M | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
¥14M–¥22M |
¥18M | Seniority-based |
Pay is denominated in CAD and quoted pre-tax, with progression governed by a seniority system. Canadian income tax (federal plus provincial combined) reaches a top rate of roughly 50%. Yen figures are converted at CAD/JPY = 110.
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 | ¥4.2M–¥7M | est. |
| First Officer — Junior | 3–5 yrs | ¥14M–¥17.6M | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | ¥16.2M–¥19.8M | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | ¥18.4M–¥22M | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | ¥26M–¥34.1M | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | ¥31M–¥39M | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | ¥35.9M–¥44M | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
From its Calgary hub, WestJet serves destinations throughout Canada, the United States (more than 60 cities), the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico and Europe (London and others).
Boeing 787-9, B737 MAX 8/10 and B737-800. Approximately 170 aircraft.
Type rating training is conducted at an FAA-certified ATO (Approved Training Organization), using Part 142 training centers such as CAE and FlightSafety. The sequence runs from ground school to simulator sessions to LOFT.
After the type rating is obtained, Initial Operating Experience is flown under the supervision of an instructor captain (Check Airman). This typically covers around 25 to 50 legs.
A Proficiency Check (PC) or Line Operational Evaluation (LOE) is conducted once or twice a year, in accordance with FAA Part 121/135.
Upgrades are fundamentally seniority-based. Candidates must meet the required flight hours (typically 5,000–8,000 hours or more) and pass a check conducted by a Check Airman. An R-ATP (1,500 hours) pathway also exists.
Pass travel for the employee and family members, offering free or heavily discounted travel on WestJet flights and with partner carriers.
Comprehensive medical insurance covering the employee and family. Loss-of-license insurance is also commonly provided.
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 paid on flight days (roughly $2–4 per hour). Rates differ between domestic and international operations.
Additional allowances and accommodation coverage for crew operating international flights.
Hiring status: Hiring on a regular basis. Open to holders of a Transport Canada ATP.
Alberta is the only province in Canada with no provincial income tax. Calgary's cost of living is also lower than on the east coast.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| WestJet Airlines 🇨🇦 | ¥26M–¥44M | ¥14M–¥22M | 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.
WestJet Airlines captain pay averages about ¥34M per year (range ¥26M–¥44M), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
WestJet Airlines first officer pay averages about ¥18M per year (range ¥14M–¥22M), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
Captain / First Officer (Regular Recruitment) — Domestic and international flying. Calgary-based.. Key requirements — License Required: Transport Canada ATPL; English: ICAO Level 4 or above; Minimum Flight Hours: 5,000 h or more for Captain (guideline); Work Eligibility: Canadian citizenship / permanent residency / work permit. Alberta is the only province in Canada with no provincial income tax. Calgary's cost of living is also lower than on the east coast.
WestJet Airlines captains average ¥34M, versus roughly ¥27M at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.