Air Canada Pilot Salary 2026
First Officer and Captain pay from the 2023–2027 Air Canada–ALPA pilot agreement. Updated .
How much does a Air Canada pilot make in 2026?
In 2026 an Air Canada First Officer earns C$94.62 an hour in year 1 on every fleet, rising to C$298.51 by year 12. Captains earn C$296.23 to C$459.25 an hour. At 1,000 credit hours a year that is about C$95K for a new First Officer and C$459K for a senior Captain.
- First Officer, year 1
- C$94.62/hr
- First Officer, top
- C$298.51/hr
- Captain, year 1
- C$296.23/hr
- Captain, top
- C$459.25/hr
Air Canada pilot pay scale 2026
| Yr | FOBoeing 777 | FOAirbus A319 +2 | CaptBoeing 777 | CaptAirbus A319 +2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C$94.62 | C$94.62 | C$411.26 | C$302.08 |
| 2 | C$102.54 | C$102.54 | C$415.39 | C$305.12 |
| 3 | C$155.24 | C$129.44 | C$419.57 | C$308.19 |
| 4 | C$167.40 | C$138.53 | C$423.80 | C$311.29 |
| 5 | C$233.30 | C$176.08 | C$428.07 | C$314.43 |
| 6 | C$242.14 | C$182.62 | C$432.39 | C$317.60 |
| 7 | C$251.13 | C$189.27 | C$436.75 | C$320.80 |
| 8 | C$260.28 | C$196.05 | C$441.16 | C$324.04 |
| 9 | C$269.60 | C$202.94 | C$445.61 | C$327.32 |
| 10 | C$279.07 | C$209.94 | C$450.11 | C$330.62 |
| 11 | C$288.71 | C$217.07 | C$454.66 | C$333.96 |
| 12 | C$298.51 | C$224.33 | C$459.25 | C$337.33 |
Hourly rates are what the contract pays per credit hour. Rough annual equivalent: rate × 1,000 credit hours (year-1 First Officer ≈ C$94,620; top Captain ≈ C$459,250). The contract guarantees at least 75 hours a month. Profit sharing, per diem and retirement contributions are on top.
Full contract table: all 6 aircraft groups, years 1–12
| Aircraft | Yr 1 | Yr 2 | Yr 3 | Yr 4 | Yr 5 | Yr 6 | Yr 7 | Yr 8 | Yr 9 | Yr 10 | Yr 11 | Yr 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 777 | 94.62 | 102.54 | 155.24 | 167.40 | 233.30 | 242.14 | 251.13 | 260.28 | 269.60 | 279.07 | 288.71 | 298.51 |
| Boeing 787 | 94.62 | 102.54 | 142.68 | 153.86 | 214.42 | 222.54 | 230.81 | 239.22 | 247.78 | 256.49 | 265.35 | 274.36 |
| Airbus A330 | 94.62 | 102.54 | 139.94 | 150.90 | 210.30 | 218.27 | 226.38 | 234.63 | 243.02 | 251.56 | 260.25 | 269.09 |
| Boeing 767-300ERF (cargo) | 94.62 | 102.54 | 131.13 | 141.40 | 197.06 | 204.53 | 212.13 | 219.86 | 227.72 | 235.73 | 243.87 | 252.15 |
| Airbus A319/A320/A321 and Boeing 737 MAX (same rates) | 94.62 | 102.54 | 129.44 | 138.53 | 176.08 | 182.62 | 189.27 | 196.05 | 202.94 | 209.94 | 217.07 | 224.33 |
| Airbus A220 | 94.62 | 102.54 | 126.93 | 135.84 | 172.67 | 179.08 | 185.61 | 192.25 | 199.00 | 205.87 | 212.87 | 219.98 |
| Aircraft | Yr 1 | Yr 2 | Yr 3 | Yr 4 | Yr 5 | Yr 6 | Yr 7 | Yr 8 | Yr 9 | Yr 10 | Yr 11 | Yr 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 777 | 411.26 | 415.39 | 419.57 | 423.80 | 428.07 | 432.39 | 436.75 | 441.16 | 445.61 | 450.11 | 454.66 | 459.25 |
| Boeing 787 | 377.98 | 381.78 | 385.62 | 389.51 | 393.43 | 397.40 | 401.41 | 405.46 | 409.56 | 413.69 | 417.87 | 422.09 |
| Airbus A330 | 370.72 | 374.45 | 378.22 | 382.03 | 385.88 | 389.77 | 393.70 | 397.68 | 401.69 | 405.75 | 409.85 | 413.99 |
| Boeing 767-300ERF (cargo) | 347.39 | 350.88 | 354.41 | 357.98 | 361.58 | 365.23 | 368.92 | 372.64 | 376.40 | 380.21 | 384.05 | 387.92 |
| Airbus A319/A320/A321 and Boeing 737 MAX (same rates) | 302.08 | 305.12 | 308.19 | 311.29 | 314.43 | 317.60 | 320.80 | 324.04 | 327.32 | 330.62 | 333.96 | 337.33 |
| Airbus A220 | 296.23 | 299.20 | 302.21 | 305.26 | 308.33 | 311.44 | 314.58 | 317.76 | 320.97 | 324.21 | 327.49 | 330.79 |
Sources and verification
Caveat: we could not read Air Canada's pilot agreement itself. These figures come from the published sources below, cross-checked where we could; the note at the end says exactly what is and is not confirmed.
2023–2027 Air Canada–ALPA pilot agreement (Sept 30, 2026 step). Rates in force from September 30, 2026. Checked on .
- Canadian Flight Trainers - Air Canada Pilot Salary 2026 (guest column by an Air Canada narrow-body captain, updated Sept 2026)Secondary source · confirms: Full hourly tables (FO, Captain, Relief Pilot; years 1-12; 777/787/A330/767/A320-737/A220) effective Sept 30 2026; 4% raise each Sept 30 of 2024/2025/2026; Fixed Rate years 1-2; 900 h annual guarantee; composite-rate formula (base 65.01 + flight + mileage + weight pay); overseas pay 18.80/10.25/6.84; >85 credit h paid double. Site is Cloudflare-blocked to curl; text read via r.jina.ai reader.
- The Globe and Mail - tentative Air Canada pilots contract includes 42% raise over four years (Sept 2024)Primary source · confirms: Structure: 26% raise retroactive to Sept 2023, then 4% in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Contract-year-2 (from Sept 30 2024) endpoints: 737 captain $280-$312/h, 737 FO $87 -> $207 at 12 yrs, wide-body relief pilot starts $87, wide-body captain $317-$424 depending on type. These match the Scudrunners year-2 table exactly.
- AirlineGeeks - How Air Canada's new pilot contract compares to U.S. counterparts (2024-10-16)Secondary source · confirms: Year-2 rates: first-year pilot CAD 87.48/h, second-year 94.81/h, 12-year 787 captain 389.96/h (match Scudrunners table).
- Scudrunners forum - Air Canada Pilot Pay Scales 2026 (posted 2026-03-19)Secondary source · confirms: Full year-2 (Sept 30 2024) table: FO Y1 87.48, 777 CA Y12 424.60, 787 CA Y12 389.96, A320/737 CA Y12 311.88, A220 CA Y12 305.83; 75 h/month minimum guarantee. Used only as a cross-check of the 2026 table.
- Global News - Air Canada pilots ratify new collective agreement (Oct 2024)Primary source · confirms: Ratified; ~41.7% cumulative over four years; average 26% from Sept 30 2023 then 4% increments every year until 2026; contract until 2027.
Air Canada - ALPA pilot collective agreement, Sept 30 2023 - Sept 29 2027 (ratified Oct 2024); rates shown are the contract-year-4 step effective Sept 30 2026 (last scheduled raise). The exact Sept 30 2026 table comes from ONE secondary source (flighttrainers.ca guest column by an Air Canada captain, who says every number comes from the ALPA agreement); the agreement itself is not public (negotech search broken, ALPA/aircanadapilots.ca members-only). Cross-check against the reputably corroborated contract-year-2 table (Sept 30 2024) multiplied by 1.04^2: A220, A320/737 and 777 captain rates and all FO rates from year 5 match to the cent (except year-3 captain, -0.19% in every fleet). Systematic deviations that cannot be confirmed without the contract: 767 +1.0%, A330 +0.45%, 787 +0.
Before Air Canada pays you any of this, you sit their aptitude battery.
Sit a timed practice paper free — no account. Scored on pace as well as accuracy, because pace is what the real battery culls on.
On top of the hourly rate
- Contract term
- Sept 30 2023 - Sept 29 2027; ratified Oct 2024 by 67% of pilots
- Raise schedule
- 26% retroactive to Sept 2023, then 4% in 2024, 2025 and 2026 (~41.7-42% cumulative)
- Raise effective date
- Each 4% step takes effect Sept 30 (2024, 2025, 2026); the Sept 30 2026 step is the last before expiry
- Guarantee
- 900 block hours per year (75 h/month average); monthly blocks built between 70 and 85 h
- Overtime
- Credit hours above 85 in a month paid at double the hourly rate
- Fixed Rate (years 1-2)
- FO year 1 CAD 94.62/h and year 2 CAD 102.54/h on any aircraft; no overseas or Nav pay during Fixed Rate
- Overseas pay (from Sept 30 2026)
- Extra CAD 18.80/h captain, 10.25/h FO, 6.84/h relief pilot on overseas flying; narrow-body Nav pay 17.09 / 8.55 / 5.13
- Relief pilot (wide-body) rates from Sept 30 2026
- 777: 94.62 (Y1) to 197.48 (Y12); 787: 94.62 to 181.50; A330: 94.62 to 178.01 CAD/h
- How the rate is built
- 12th-year captain composite = hourly base 65.01 + flight pay (155.82 narrow-body, 168.07 767, 176.39 787/A330/777) + mileage pay (82.38 / 86.40 / 89.41) + weight pay (27.58 A220 ... 128.43 777); other cells are percentages of it
- Rates one year earlier (contract year 2, from Sept 30 2024)
- FO Y1 87.48; 737/A320 CA 279.23-311.88; 777 CA Y12 424.60; 787 CA Y12 389.96 (Globe and Mail + AirlineGeeks + Scudrunners agree)
How Air Canada pay compares
Same currency, ranked by top Captain pay. New First Officer pay sits in the lighter bar. Contract rows are hourly rates × 1,000 credit hours a year.
- Air Canada (this page) ContractCapt C$459KFO yr 1 C$95K
- WestJetEstimateCapt C$260KFO yr 1 C$75K
- Porter AirlinesEstimateCapt C$220KFO yr 1 C$68K
- Flair AirlinesEstimateCapt C$185KFO yr 1 C$60K
What it takes to get hired at Air Canada
Checked against Air Canada's official careers pages on August 22, 2026. Full Air Canada recruitment guide
| Certificates | Canadian (Transport Canada) ATPL |
|---|---|
| Ratings | Current Group 1 (multi-engine) instrument rating |
| Medical | Category 1 medical meeting Air Canada and Transport Canada standards, including visual acuity |
| Citizenship | Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status — a work permit is not sufficient |
| Flight Time | No minimum hour figure is published; Air Canada states applications far exceed vacancies and favours candidates who exceed the basic requirements |
From student pilot to Air Canada Captain
Shown for the EASA system most non-US airlines recruit from; other authorities are similar. Hour figures are regulatory minimums, time ranges are typical.
Step 1
Class 1 medical + theory
First month EASA Part-MED / Part-FCLBook the Class 1 medical before paying any school. Then ATPL theory: 13 subjects under the EASA syllabus (other authorities differ).
Try free private-pilot theory questions (FAA format)Step 2
CPL / IR / multi-engine training
≈ 200 h (EASA integrated minimum 195 h) 18–24 months integrated EASA FCL Appendix 3Integrated course in one go, or modular (PPL first, then hour building, CPL, IR). Ends with multi-crew (MCC/APS) training.
Step 3
Type rating (A320 / 737)
Simulator + base training 2–3 monthsPaid by the airline in some cadet or direct-entry schemes, self-funded in others — check the specific vacancy.
Step 4
Air Canada First Officer
Airline-specificLow-hour pilots usually join with a frozen ATPL.
Step 5
Full ATPL (unfrozen)
1,500 h incl. 500 h multi-pilot 3–4 years of line flying EASA FCL.510.AThe licence you need to be pilot-in-command of a multi-pilot airliner.
Step 6
Air Canada Captain
Command course Depends on seniority and growthUpgrade criteria (hours, time in seat, assessment) are set by each airline.
Knowing what Air Canada pays is the easy part. Getting through their selection is the part that decides whether you ever earn it.
Before a human reads your application there is an aptitude battery, and candidates consistently report it as the heaviest cull — pace, not difficulty. You can practise it here for free: timed papers generated fresh each run, plus a divided-attention drill that measures how much your performance degrades under load.
Already past the paperwork and preparing for the panel? , scored against the answers a panel is listening for. Seven days of access, no subscription.
No Air Canada pack yet — want it built?
We will not pretend to have one. We build the next pack for the airline that gets asked for most, so leaving your address here is a vote. No sequence, one email when it ships.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Air Canada pilot make in 2026?
In 2026 an Air Canada First Officer earns C$94.62 an hour in year 1 on every fleet, rising to C$298.51 by year 12. Captains earn C$296.23 to C$459.25 an hour. At 1,000 credit hours a year that is about C$95K for a new First Officer and C$459K for a senior Captain.
How much does a Air Canada First Officer make in the first year?
C$94.62 an hour in year 1 under 2023–2027 Air Canada–ALPA pilot agreement (Sept 30, 2026 step), the same on every fleet. At 1,000 credit hours that is about C$94,620 a year; the contract guarantees at least 75 hours a month (C$85,158 a year at the minimum).
How much does a Air Canada Captain make?
Air Canada Captains earn C$296.23 an hour (year 1, Airbus A220) up to C$459.25 an hour (year 12, Boeing 777). At 1,000 credit hours a year the top rate is about C$459,250 before profit sharing.
Do Air Canada widebody pilots earn more than narrowbody pilots?
Yes. In year 12 a Boeing 777 Captain earns C$459.25 an hour versus C$337.33 on the Airbus A319/A320/A321 and Boeing 737 MAX (same rates); First Officers earn C$298.51 versus C$224.33. Which aircraft you can hold depends on seniority.
Is Air Canada hiring pilots in 2026?
Air Canada is hiring pilots, according to its official careers pages as of August 22, 2026. Openings change month to month, so check the live posting before you apply.
What do you need to fly for Air Canada?
Certificates: Canadian (Transport Canada) ATPL Ratings: Current Group 1 (multi-engine) instrument rating Medical: Category 1 medical meeting Air Canada and Transport Canada standards, including visual acuity
Where do these Air Canada pay figures come from?
From 2023–2027 Air Canada–ALPA pilot agreement (Sept 30, 2026 step). We read it on October 3, 2026 via: Canadian Flight Trainers - Air Canada Pilot Salary 2026 (guest column by an Air Canada narrow-body captain, updated Sept 2026); The Globe and Mail - tentative Air Canada pilots contract includes 42% raise over four years (Sept 2024); AirlineGeeks - How Air Canada's new pilot contract compares to U.S. counterparts (2024-10-16); Scudrunners forum - Air Canada Pilot Pay Scales 2026 (posted 2026-03-19); Global News - Air Canada pilots ratify new collective agreement (Oct 2024).
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