Qatar Airways vs Etihad Airways
A side-by-side comparison of pilot careers at Qatar Airways (QR) and Etihad Airways (EY) — 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.
Same hour gate
Both state 3,000 hours, so hours will not decide this one. What decides it is the selection process itself — aptitude testing, the sim assessment and the competency interview.
Etihad Airways starts higher, Qatar Airways tops out higher
Etihad Airways reaches $140,000 as an FO, while Qatar Airways reaches $320,000 in the left seat. If you expect to stay for a career, the captain band matters more than the entry number.
Different countries, different right to work
Qatar Airways hires into Qatar and Etihad Airways into United Arab Emirates. 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 have a full pack for Qatar Airways, and not for the other one yet.
Knowing what Qatar Airways 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. And when you reach the interview, there are 100 Qatar Airways-specific questions with model answers, the red flags that fail each one, and the follow-ups the panel actually asks.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Requirements Comparison
Qatar Airways
- ICAO ATPL
- 3,000+ hours total time
- 1,500+ on multi-crew jets
- Valid Class 1 medical
- ICAO English Level 4+
Etihad Airways
- ICAO ATPL
- 3,000+ hours total time
- 1,500+ on multi-crew aircraft
- Valid Class 1 medical
Pros & Cons
Qatar Airways
Pros
- +Tax-free salary
- +Modern fleet with 787 Dreamliner
- +Simplified fleet — fewer type ratings needed
- +Tax-free jurisdiction
Cons
- –High minimum hour requirements (3,000+)
- –Relocation to the Middle East required
Etihad Airways
Pros
- +Tax-free salary
- +Modern fleet with 787 Dreamliner
- +Simplified fleet — fewer type ratings needed
- +Tax-free jurisdiction
Cons
- –High minimum hour requirements (3,000+)
- –Relocation to the Middle East required
About Each Airline
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways is a premium carrier based in Doha, operating one of the world's most modern fleets to destinations across six continents.
Full Qatar Airways career guide →Etihad Airways
Abu Dhabi's flagship carrier offers tax-free compensation and operates a modern fleet to destinations worldwide.
Full Etihad Airways career guide →Calculate Your Salary
Model your earning potential at Qatar Airways or Etihad Airways based on your experience, ratings, and career stage.
Salary Calculator