Pilot Career Moves from Japan
The Complete Guide

1. Why Pilots Move — The Top 5 Reasons

An analysis of the anonymous reviews submitted to PILOT VALUE shows that the reasons pilots decide to move come down to the following five.

1. Discovering how wide the pay gap really is — for the same flight hours, annual salary can differ by more than $63K depending on the airline
2. Frustration with the pace of promotion — at the majors it can take 15 to 20 years to go from First Officer to Captain, whereas LCCs and overseas carriers have upgraded pilots in 7 to 10 years
3. Changes in family life or lifestyle — long absences on international routes push pilots toward domestic and short-haul flying
4. Concern about a downturn or job cuts — a sense of crisis about airline business risk, felt acutely during COVID
5. Building assets for retirement — a strategic move to a company with retirement at 65 and a generous severance package

2. Types of Move and How Pay Changes

① Japanese Major → Japanese Major (ANA ↔ JAL)

Possible in principle, but real examples are extremely rare. Both carriers impose constraints through company-sponsored cadet programs and scholarship repayments, so the cost of moving is high. The change in annual salary is close to zero, because pay levels are the same. It is rarely chosen as a realistic career path.

② Japanese Major → LCC

These are our own estimates from public information, not figures the carriers publish.

Pay goes down, but pilots choose these moves for the speed of upgrade, roster flexibility and work-life balance. The big draw is reaching Captain five to ten years earlier than at a major.

③ LCC → Japanese Major

Here too, these are our own estimates. Where you sit inside the range is set by the aircraft type, years of service and the routes you fly.

④ Japan → Overseas (Middle East, US and Asian carriers)

In pay terms this is by far the most effective move. Listed here are the figures the carriers themselves publish and our own estimates, each labelled with what kind of figure it is.

The Emirates total package already includes housing and school fees, so cash pay and allowances cannot be added on top of it. It is neither an average across all employees nor a guaranteed minimum.

→ See the full Emirates vs Qatar Airways comparison here

⑤ Airline → Business Jets (Corporate Aviation)

Annual salary is often lower than at an airline, at $31K–$94K, but flight hours are low and the physical toll is lighter. Satisfaction is high in this line of work, serving owner-operators and high-net-worth clients. Note that in some cases you have to fund the type rating yourself.

3. Requirements and Licenses

What you need for a domestic move (between ANA, JAL and the LCCs)

• A valid Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL)
• A type rating on the aircraft you are applying for (in some cases obtained after you are hired)
• A minimum number of flight hours (varies by airline; for Captain positions, 3,000 hours total time is the usual benchmark)
• A Class 1 aviation medical certificate (within its validity period)

What you need for an overseas move

• An ICAO ATPL (your Japanese ATPL converted or validated)
• ICAO English Level 4 or above (the minimum bar for the Middle East and Asia)
• Total flight time: 3,000–4,000 hours or more for Middle Eastern carriers, 5,000 hours or more for US carriers, as a rule of thumb
• A type rating on, or experience in, wide-body aircraft (B777, B787, A350 and similar) counts in your favor
• A medical examination (to each country's aviation medical standards)

4. Salary Simulation

What follows is the figure each destination publishes and our own estimate, each labelled with what kind of figure it is.

5. The Process and Timeline

Domestic move (3–6 months)

1. Research and check openings (airline careers pages, trade press)
2. Submit your application (CV, flight-time record, copies of licenses)
3. Written and aptitude tests
4. Simulator assessment (handling check on the relevant type)
5. Interviews (including an executive panel)
6. Aviation medical examination
7. Offer and start-date negotiation

Overseas move (6–18 months)

1. Build your English and flight hours (starting one to two years ahead)
2. Prepare your CV and flight-time record (in English, industry format)
3. Register with an agency or apply directly
4. Document screening (several weeks to several months)
5. Simulator assessment (at base or in a designated city)
6. Oral English test (to confirm your ICAO Level)
7. Medical assessment (to each country's aviation medical standards)
8. Background check
9. Offer, visa and relocation preparation (3–6 months)

6. Overseas vs Domestic — Which Should You Choose?

7. Seven Checkpoints to Avoid a Bad Move

1. Compare "after-tax take-home", not "headline salary" — for overseas roles in particular, get the local tax rules exactly right
2. Check whether training costs fall on you — if the type-conversion cost is self-funded, that is an outlay of $31K–$94K
3. Check the contract term and renewal conditions — overseas airlines commonly use three- to five-year contracts, with no guarantee of renewal
4. Check the retirement-age rules — retirement at 65 is common for pilots, but it varies by airline and by country
5. Confirm the terms for bringing your family in advance — housing allowance, the cap on school-fee support, and whether a Japanese school is available
6. Continuity of pension and social insurance — while you are overseas there is a risk of a gap in your Japanese employee pension record
7. Think through your career path after returning — if you plan to come back to Japan in three to five years, research the domestic hiring market beforehand

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

9. Related Information