AirAsia Pilot Salary 2026
Estimated First Officer and Captain pay. Page updated .
How much does a AirAsia pilot make in 2026?
Our estimate for AirAsia pilot pay in 2026: a First Officer earns about MYR 96,000 a year at the start and MYR 160,000 by year 10. Captains earn roughly MYR 220,000 to MYR 350,000. These figures have not yet been checked against AirAsia's current pilot contract; treat them as a range.
- First Officer, year 1
- MYR 96K/yr
- First Officer, top
- MYR 160K/yr
- Captain, year 1
- MYR 220K/yr
- Captain, top
- MYR 350K/yr
AirAsia pilot pay scale 2026
| Seat | Year 1 | Year 5 | Year 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Officer | MYR 96,000 | MYR 130,000 | MYR 160,000 |
| Captain | MYR 220,000 | MYR 290,000 | MYR 350,000 |
Where these numbers come from
The pay scale above is an estimate. We have not been able to check it line by line against AirAsia's current pilot agreement or an official pay publication, so we do not present it as a pay scale. Pages where we have done that check say “From the pilot contract” and list the source and the date we read it. If you hold the current AirAsia scale, the contact page is the fastest way to get it corrected.
Before AirAsia 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.
How AirAsia pay compares
Same currency, ranked by top Captain pay. New First Officer pay sits in the lighter bar.
- Malaysia AirlinesEstimateCapt MYR 440KFO yr 1 MYR 120K
- AirAsia (this page)EstimateCapt MYR 350KFO yr 1 MYR 96K
What it takes to get hired at AirAsia
Checked against AirAsia's official careers pages on August 22, 2026. Full AirAsia recruitment guide
| Entry Route | Direct entry vacancies are advertised as 'First Officer A320 Type Rated' — an A320 rating is the practical filter, and postings fill and close quickly |
|---|---|
| Published Criteria | AirAsia publishes no standing hour or licence minimums for direct entry; requirements appear with each vacancy on mycareer.airasia.com |
| Cadet Programme | The documented way in: Malaysian citizens or permanent residents aged 17-28, with SPM grades in English, Maths and Physics or General Science (diploma/degree holders need CGPA 3.0+) |
| Medical | Class 1 medical |
From student pilot to AirAsia 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
AirAsia 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
AirAsia Captain
Command course Depends on seniority and growthUpgrade criteria (hours, time in seat, assessment) are set by each airline.
Knowing what AirAsia 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 AirAsia 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 AirAsia pilot make in 2026?
Our estimate for AirAsia pilot pay in 2026: a First Officer earns about MYR 96,000 a year at the start and MYR 160,000 by year 10. Captains earn roughly MYR 220,000 to MYR 350,000. These figures have not yet been checked against AirAsia's current pilot contract; treat them as a range.
Is AirAsia hiring pilots in 2026?
AirAsia 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 AirAsia?
Entry Route: Direct entry vacancies are advertised as 'First Officer A320 Type Rated' — an A320 rating is the practical filter, and postings fill and close quickly Published Criteria: AirAsia publishes no standing hour or licence minimums for direct entry; requirements appear with each vacancy on mycareer.airasia.com Cadet Programme: The documented way in: Malaysian citizens or permanent residents aged 17-28, with SPM grades in English, Maths and Physics or General Science (diploma/degree holders need CGPA 3.0+)
Where do these AirAsia pay figures come from?
They are estimates that we have not yet checked against AirAsia's current pilot contract or an official pay publication. Pages we have checked say "From the pilot contract" and name the source and date.
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