Air France vs KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
A side-by-side comparison of pilot careers at Air France (AF) and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL) — 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.
Different countries, different right to work
Air France hires into France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines into Netherlands. Before comparing anything else, check which one you can legally be employed in — residency and licence conversion decide more applications than flying ability does.
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 France 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 France 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 France
- EASA ATPL
- Class 1 medical
- French language proficiency
- EU citizenship or work permit
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
- EASA ATPL
- Class 1 medical
- English proficiency
- Dutch language helpful
Pros & Cons
Air France
Pros
- +Modern fleet with 787 Dreamliner
- +Simplified fleet — fewer type ratings needed
Cons
- –Local language proficiency preferred
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Pros
- +Modern fleet with 787 Dreamliner
Cons
- –Local language proficiency preferred
About Each Airline
Air France
France's flag carrier operates an extensive long-haul network from Paris Charles de Gaulle with a focus on premium service.
Full Air France career guide →KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
The world's oldest airline still operating under its original name. KLM is part of the Air France-KLM group and operates from Amsterdam Schiphol.
Full KLM Royal Dutch Airlines career guide →Calculate Your Salary
Model your earning potential at Air France or KLM Royal Dutch Airlines based on your experience, ratings, and career stage.
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