Air Canada vs WestJet
A side-by-side comparison of pilot careers at Air Canada (AC) and WestJet (WS) — covering salary, fleet, requirements, and more.
Airline selection starts with an aptitude battery
It screens you before a human reads your application. Sit a timed practice paper free — scored on pace, which is what actually culls candidates.
Which one fits you
Read from the numbers above rather than from opinion. Where the published data does not settle a question, it is left open instead of guessed.
Air Canada pays higher at both ends
Top of band: $150,000 as an FO and $300,000 as a captain. Bands are wide because seniority, fleet and country tax all move them — treat this as direction, not a payslip.
Whichever you pick, the gate is the same shape
Both run an aptitude battery before a human reads your CV, then a competency interview scored against the ICAO pilot competencies. We do not have a pack for either yet — the aptitude practice below applies to both.
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.
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.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Requirements Comparison
Air Canada
- Transport Canada ATPL
- Class 1 medical
- Canadian work authorization
- Bilingual (English/French) an asset
WestJet
- Transport Canada ATPL
- 3,000+ hours total
- 1,000+ on type
- Class 1 medical
Pros & Cons
Air Canada
Pros
- +Modern fleet with 787 Dreamliner
- +Simplified fleet — fewer type ratings needed
WestJet
Pros
- +Simplified fleet — fewer type ratings needed
Cons
- –High minimum hour requirements (3,000+)
- –Lower starting FO salary compared to US/Gulf carriers
About Each Airline
Air Canada
Canada's flag carrier operates global routes from hubs in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
Full Air Canada career guide →WestJet
Canada's second-largest carrier, WestJet has evolved from LCC to full-service airline with international routes.
Full WestJet career guide →Calculate Your Salary
Model your earning potential at Air Canada or WestJet based on your experience, ratings, and career stage.
Salary Calculator