JAL Group international LCC. Growing carrier operating B787 Dreamliner.
ZIPAIR Tokyo was established in 2018 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan Airlines (JAL), commencing operations in 2020. Using B787 Dreamliner aircraft, it operates from Narita to Bangkok, Seoul, Honolulu, Los Angeles, and San Jose.
Positioned as a LHCC (Low-to-High Cost Carrier) between full-service and LCC, ZIPAIR benefits from JAL Group infrastructure while offering a dynamic growth environment as a young airline.
* 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 B787 |
$138K–$195K |
$157K | Pre-tax |
| First Officer B787 |
$75K–$120K |
$94K | Seniority-based |
💡 Reference: Air Japan (AJX) public data — Captain $10,930–$16,090/month, F/O $6,800–$9,660/month. ZIPAIR actual figures may differ.
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 | $23K–$38K | est. |
| First Officer — Junior | 3–5 yrs | $75K–$96K | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | $88K–$107K | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | $100K–$120K | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | $138K–$164K | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | $154K–$179K | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | $170K–$195K | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
International routes from Narita (NRT): LA (LAX), San Jose (SJC), Honolulu (HNL), Bangkok, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur. International-only LCC, no domestic ops.
B787-8 (sole aircraft type). Expansion planned.
Using JAL Group training infrastructure. Ground school → simulator → line training at Narita base.
B787-rated pilots undergo abbreviated transition. Full type rating course for pilots from other types.
Internal upgrade after F/O service. Young airline may offer earlier upgrade opportunities depending on demand.
Training aligned with JAL Group safety management standards. Safety culture at JAL level.
Employee discount program for JAL and ZIPAIR flights. Group-wide connectivity.
Health insurance with medical exam support. Loss of license coverage included.
Defined contribution pension. Lump-sum retirement benefit based on tenure.
Monthly minimum flight hours guarantee (approx. 70h/month).
Daily allowance for overseas layovers (~$33/day).
As a new carrier, early exposure to diverse roles and routes is likely.
Hiring status: Hiring
* ~150 hiring plan announced Oct 2024. Active expansion phase.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIPAIR Tokyo 🇯🇵 | $138K–$195K | $75K–$120K | ~33% (Japan) |
| 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.
ZIPAIR Tokyo captain pay averages about $157K per year (range $138K–$195K), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
ZIPAIR Tokyo first officer pay averages about $94K per year (range $75K–$120K), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
Captain — B787 — International captain. Narita base.. Key requirements — Min. Hours: 1,500h PIC; License: ATPL; Ret. Age: 60 (ext. to 65). ~150 hiring plan announced Oct 2024. Active expansion phase.
ZIPAIR Tokyo captains average $157K, versus roughly $170K at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.
Dividing the annual average by 12, ZIPAIR Tokyo captains earn about $13K a month and first officers about $7.9K. 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.
ZIPAIR Tokyo first officers average $94K and captains $157K — a step of about $63K, or roughly 1.7×. The full range runs $75K to $195K, 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 $157K and first officers $94K 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 Japan 26 airlines · captain avg $116K