WestJet vs Air Canada
A side-by-side comparison of pilot careers at WestJet (WS) and Air Canada (AC) — 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 WestJet 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 WestJet 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
WestJet
- Transport Canada ATPL
- 3,000+ hours total
- 1,000+ on type
- Class 1 medical
Air Canada
- Transport Canada ATPL
- Class 1 medical
- Canadian work authorization
- Bilingual (English/French) an asset
Pros & Cons
WestJet
Pros
- +Simplified fleet — fewer type ratings needed
Cons
- –High minimum hour requirements (3,000+)
- –Lower starting FO salary compared to US/Gulf carriers
Air Canada
Pros
- +Modern fleet with 787 Dreamliner
- +Simplified fleet — fewer type ratings needed
About Each Airline
WestJet
Canada's second-largest carrier, WestJet has evolved from LCC to full-service airline with international routes.
Full WestJet career guide →Air Canada
Canada's flag carrier operates global routes from hubs in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
Full Air Canada career guide →Calculate Your Salary
Model your earning potential at WestJet or Air Canada based on your experience, ratings, and career stage.
Salary Calculator