Air France Pilot Salary in 2025: Pay Ranges, Bonuses and Outlook

Air France pilot salaries are holding strong in 2025 even as the carrier faces a tense year of strikes, tax hikes, and fleet changes. First Officers earn between €5,000 and €11,000 a month, while Captains at major European airlines, including Air France, commonly land €13,000 to €20,000 or more. Annual totals can pass €200,000 for the most senior long‑haul crews when overtime, per diems, and bonuses are added, according to union and industry reports released this summer.

These ranges place Air France near the top of the European market, but with clear gaps versus United States carriers. For 2025, Air France confirms that pay varies by seniority, aircraft type, and flight hours. The monthly band for First Officers sits at €5,000 to €11,000, equal to roughly €60,000 to €132,000 a year. For Captains, industry estimates point to €13,000 to €20,000+ a month, especially on widebodies and long‑haul, though exact Air France captain figures are not publicly posted.

Behind the headline base pay, total earnings depend heavily on flying patterns. Long‑haul trips add night duty, augmented crews, and international allowances that raise monthly pay. Short‑haul rosters bring more takeoffs and landings and can generate overtime when schedules are tight. In both cases, per diems, holiday work, and special assignments matter.

That is why senior Captains on widebodies often cross the €200,000 mark in a high‑flying year, while a new First Officer at Air France may sit much closer to the base.

Labor disputes, transfers and taxes: the wider context

The salary picture sits inside a bigger story. In 2024 and 2025, pilots staged several job actions over the transfer of routes to Transavia, the group’s low‑cost arm, and over higher government ticket taxes that entered force this year. Air traffic controller strikes in July 2025 added further disruption, forcing changes to rosters and putting stress on negotiations.

The main union, SNPL, warned of “tens of thousands of job losses” and a potential “social disaster” if current trends continue.

SNPL’s message is simple: moving Air France jobs to a lower‑cost platform threatens pay scales and career paths tied to the flag carrier’s contracts. Management has said it is ready to negotiate transition terms for pilots who transfer to Transavia, but the union wants full parity with Air France conditions. That includes:

• Salary steps and preservation of pay scale progression
• Bidding rights for desirable lines and rosters
• Protection of seniority lists that govern upgrades from First Officer to Captain

Taxes as a flashpoint

France’s solidarity tax on air tickets, the Taxe de Solidarité sur les Billets d’Avion (TSBA), rose sharply for 2025 and has drawn criticism from airlines and airports. Industry groups argue the higher levy cuts funds available for fleet renewal and decarbonization, while unions say the burden will land on jobs.

Air France pilots fear a squeeze that could:

• Slow hiring
• Reduce available flight lines
• Cap promotion speed from First Officer to Captain over time

Operational disruption and passenger guidance

Air traffic controller walkouts in July 2025 forced reroutes, delays, and cancellations. For pilots, that meant reserve assignments and last‑minute changes affecting days off, overtime, and monthly totals. For passengers, the advice remains:

• Check live updates and rebooking options through Air France and airport channels
• See status notices during disruptions on the Aéroports de Paris website: https://www.parisaeroport.fr
• Use airline alerts for information on refunds, vouchers, and claiming care at the airport

Pay scales under pressure

As the labor debate continues, the core pay picture for 2025 is clear:

• First Officers: €5,000 to €11,000 per month (roughly €60,000 to €132,000 per year)
• Captains: industry and union sources place many experienced Captains at €13,000 to €20,000+ per month, especially on long‑haul widebodies
• Top annual totals: often exceed €200,000 when per diems, overtime, and bonuses are included

These figures keep Air France pilot salaries competitive in Europe, but the union fight over Transavia matters because contract terms decide how much of that pay picture remains reachable for crews who change fleets or uniforms.

Management argues transition packages can soften changes for pilots moving to Transavia, while SNPL opposes transfers that place pilots on lower‑paid scales, saying such moves erode the traditional Air France career pathway and undercut Captain bids. The resulting gap explains repeated strike threats in 2024 and early 2025.

Tax policy and investment

The higher TSBA leaves less room for:

• Base raises
• Productivity bonuses
• Accelerated fleet upgrades (which create new Captain seats)

Industry groups warn that fresh taxes risk slowing investment just when carriers need cash to cut emissions. Unions add that when costs jump, management often pushes flying to cheaper units—potentially reducing growth paths and increasing pressure to accept lower‑paid contracts elsewhere.

To track policy moves that shape airline pay and rules, pilots often look to France’s civil aviation authority. The government’s DGAC portal publishes official information on regulation, operations, and safety: https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/direction-generale-laviation-civile-dgac. While it doesn’t set salaries, decisions that affect schedules, airport capacity, or fuel costs ultimately feed into bargaining.

Hiring and the path from right seat to left

Despite turbulence, Air France is hiring in 2025. The company is taking both cadets and experienced pilots under updated selection rules that took effect on January 1.

Selection process (three stages):

1. PSY 0 — pre‑selection
2. PSY 1 — psychotechnical and psychomotor testing
3. PSY 2 — group and individual interviews

New deferral limits apply. For example:

• Two failures at PSY 1 or three at PSY 0 lead to elimination from the cadet stream
• Professionals may still apply under different rules

Training takes place at ENAC in Toulouse and Air France’s facilities at Roissy Charles de Gaulle. Once employed, salary progression follows a predictable arc: aircraft type, length of service, and flying hours drive raises over time.

The jump from First Officer to Captain depends on:

• Seniority and assessments
• Openings on the fleet (widebodies generally offer higher pay but receive stricter bidding)
• Strong English, a clean record, and solid simulator performance

Candidates can find official details, application windows, and program updates on Air France’s careers page: https://corporate.airfrance.com/en/airline-pilot. Prospects should also monitor union channels for negotiation news that may shift assignments and pay.

Pay composition and variability

Base salary is only one piece of the paycheck. Common pay elements include:

• Base pay tied to rank and seniority
• Per diems for meals and time away from base
• Overtime for flying above rostered blocks when allowed
• Bonuses for long‑haul, night duty, holidays, and special tasks
• Allowances linked to aircraft type or training duties

Examples of how variability affects pay:

• A new First Officer: base near the lower band; extras start small
• A senior Captain on a widebody: higher base, longer trips, and stacked allowances
• Months heavy on simulator checks or ground school can reduce flight pay but may open advancement doors

Career timing matters: in growth years, retirements and new deliveries create vacancies and push upgrades. In flat years, upgrades slow and competition increases—hence the close attention to 2025 tax changes and any transfers to Transavia.

Europe’s pay map and the 2025 outlook

Across Europe, Air France pilot salaries track other major carriers:

• EasyJet’s 2024 recruitment drive publicized offers up to £170,000 (roughly €200,000) for senior Captains
• Lufthansa and British Airways maintain similar high‑end ranges for long‑haul command

Shared patterns:

• Narrowbodies pay less than widebodies
• Long‑haul pays more than short‑haul
• Seniority governs who moves first

Globally, differences are larger. In the United States, major‑airline Captains can collect more than $500,000 in a peak year. European pay is lower and taxes are higher, which narrows take‑home differences but does not close them. Analysis by https://www.visaverge.com highlights how collective bargaining models, cost‑of‑living assumptions, and ticket pricing shape these gaps.

The 2025 policy environment will likely keep pressure on pay and hiring:

• Higher ticket taxes add costs that are hard to pass fully to customers
• Low‑cost carriers’ growth pressures legacy carriers to seek flexibility
• Unions resist changes that weaken seniority and pay
• Management tries to balance cost, service, and crew pipeline

This triangle will shape hiring pace and upgrade timelines across fleets.

Practical advice for pilots and passengers

For individual pilots:

• Keep records accurate and current for selection processes
• Track union briefings on Transavia talks and tax responses
• Review roster preferences with an eye on rest rules and overtime impacts
• Consider timing for bidding a new type or seat based on likely retirements

For passengers:

• Plan for occasional disruption while the labor picture evolves
• Check flight status early and often and keep contact details updated in bookings
• Use the airline app for alerts
• During strikes or ATC slowdowns, check airport status on https://www.parisaeroport.fr and use Air France channels for rebooking and care

Key takeaways from the cockpit:
– Air France pilot salaries remain strong by European standards, particularly for Captains on long‑haul widebodies.
– Selection, deferral, and training rules are clearer than before, aiding candidate planning.
– Labor and tax policy will likely determine how fast careers progress in 2025 and beyond.

Sources and official channels

• National pilots’ union (SNPL): https://www.snpl.com
• Air France Careers (recruitment, selection steps, medicals): https://corporate.airfrance.com/en/airline-pilot
• Aéroports de Paris (status notices, passenger information): https://www.parisaeroport.fr
• DGAC (government aviation regulation): https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/direction-generale-laviation-civile-dgac
• Comparative analysis: https://www.visaverge.com

Through autumn, pay and job security will remain in focus: cadets tracking test windows, mid‑career First Officers weighing type bids, and senior Captains defending contract terms. The shared aim is stable rosters, clear upgrades, and a pay scale that rewards experience.