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TAP Air Portugal vs easyJet

A side-by-side comparison of pilot careers at TAP Air Portugal (TP) and easyJet (U2) — 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.

Take the free test

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

TAP Air Portugal hires into Portugal and easyJet into United Kingdom. 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 easyJet, and not for the other one yet.

Knowing what TAP Air Portugal 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 TAP Air Portugal 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

TAP Air Portugal
easyJet
Country
Portugal
United Kingdom
Airline Type
Major Airline
Low-Cost Carrier
IATA Code
TP
U2
Regulatory Authority
EASA
EASA
First Officer Salary
€45,000 - €80,000
£45,000 - £80,000
Captain Salary
€100,000 - €170,000
£110,000 - £160,000
Fleet
Airbus A320/321/330neo
Airbus A319/320/321neo

Requirements Comparison

TAP Air Portugal

  • EASA ATPL
  • Class 1 medical
  • Portuguese helpful
  • EU right to work

easyJet

  • EASA/UK ATPL
  • Class 1 medical
  • Airbus type rating preferred
  • 250+ hours on type

Pros & Cons

TAP Air Portugal

Pros

  • +Simplified fleet — fewer type ratings needed

easyJet

Pros

  • +Faster career progression
  • +Simplified fleet — fewer type ratings needed

Cons

  • Higher workload with quick turnarounds
  • Type rating required before application

About Each Airline

TAP Air Portugal

Portugal's flag carrier specializes in connections between Europe, Africa, and South America from its Lisbon hub.

Full TAP Air Portugal career guide →

easyJet

Major European LCC with bases across the UK and Europe. All-Airbus fleet with good work-life balance for a low-cost carrier.

Full easyJet career guide →

Calculate Your Salary

Model your earning potential at TAP Air Portugal or easyJet based on your experience, ratings, and career stage.

Salary Calculator

Test Your Knowledge

Study EASA theory questions with our free interactive quiz.

Practice Quiz