Cathay Pacific Airways Pilot Salary in 2025

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Cathay Pacific Airways (CX), the flag carrier of Hong Kong SAR, is one of the leading names in the aviation world and has been widely recognized as one of the best airlines in the Asia Pacific region. The operator, owned majorly by Swire Holdings, Air China (CA), and Qatar Airways (QR), operates flights to 83 destinations with a fleet of 180 aircraft.

From its operating base of Hong Kong International Airport, Cathay Pacific offers efficient connectivity to passengers within Asia as well as to Europe, North America, Oceania, and South Africa. One of the Oneworld Alliance founders has been lauded for its fantastic service across these routes and is also the pinnacle of flying for several pilots in the APAC region as well as around the world.

Photo: Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific Pilot Salary

Cathay Pacific Second Officer Salary

Cathay Pacific’s second officers are their junior-most category of pilots. They are generally deployed on intercontinental long-haul flights and are shadowed by captains as well as first officers in their process of logging flying hours. CX’s second officers tend to be graduates from their own cadet program or graduates from independent flying schools.

Cathay pays its second officers an annual salary starting from HKD 585,000 (approx. US$75,000) and guarantees them a minimum of 50 hours of flying hours per month. This figure is bound to increase depending on hours flown as well as experience within the airline.

Additionally, they are offered a monthly allowance of HKD 14,000 (approx. US$1,800).

Photo: Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific First Officer Salary

Cathay Pacific’s first officers assist the captain in flying the airplane from point A to point B. They are responsible for carrying out safety checks of the aircraft pre-flight, confirming the flight plan with the commanders, and communicating with the air traffic controller. First officers with experience are also makeshift captains during the main pilot’s resting period.

Cathay’s first officers earn an annual salary starting from HKD 897,000 (approx. US$115,000) and receive a monthly guarantee of 50 flying hours. As with every other category of pilot, the salary figure is variable in accordance with flight time and seniority in the carrier.

First officers are also paid a monthly allowance of HKD 20,000 (approx. US$2,600).

Photo: Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific Captain Salary

Cathay Pacific captains are in charge of commanding the aircraft from the origin to the destination. They make critical decisions pertaining to the navigation, routing, and safety during the flight with the more senior individuals being tasked with training second officers, and first officers too, in addition to management of cabin crew as well as their cockpit colleagues.

Cathay Pacific’s captains receive the highest base salary per year, starting from HKD 1,112,500 (approx. US$145,000). As in the case of first officers and second officers, they are provided with a minimum guarantee of 50 flying hours per month whereas the base salary can increase depending on seniority, flying hours, and aircraft type flown.

Captains are also entitled to the highest amount of monthly allowance, HKD 28,000 (approx. US$3,600).

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• British Airways Pilot Salary in 2024

Photo: Cathay Pacific

Benefits Enjoyed by Cathay Pacific Pilots

Cathay Pacific Airways offers its pilots with a fantastic salary package but moreover, the following non-monetary benefits are offered to them.

1. ANNUAL LEAVE – CX offers 21 annual leaves to its second officers and 28 annual leaves to its first officers whereas captains receive 35 paid days off in a year. In addition to paid time off, pilots are also given a sick leave quota of 12 days in a year and are entitled to public holidays (with compensatory offs if working) in accordance with the Hong Kong calendar.
2. DISCOUNTED TRAVEL – Pilots and their dependents are entitled to discounted fares on the Cathay Pacific network as well as with their codeshare partners. This includes premium classes of travel and an unlimited quota of tickets.
3. MEDICAL COVERAGE – Cathay Pacific’s pilots and their families are provided with a robust medical insurance plan. The aviators themselves receive comprehensive, globally valid coverage, and any medical expenses away from the Hong Kong base are also fully taken care of.
4. EDUCATION ALLOWANCE – An education allowance besides the salary package is made available to pilots with children up to the age of 21. This ensures that school and university fees are taken care of within the Hong Kong SAR region for all students.
5. BONUS SCHEME – Cathay Pacific has a bonus pool that entitles all pilots to performance-related payments at the end of the financial year. A calculation is made depending on the individual’s as well as company’s progress and in most cases, a handsome packet is paid.
6. PENSION SCHEME – Pilots employed by Cathay Pacific have the opportunity to agree on a pension plan with the airline. This ensures that they are continued to be paid after retirement though a sacrifice from the present compensation needs to be made for it.

Photo: Cathay Pacific

What Aircraft do CX pilots fly?

Cathay Pacific operates a diverse fleet of Airbus and Boeing planes, although most of their aircraft are wide bodies. CX’s pilots have the opportunity to fly the following models.

• Airbus A321neo – 16
• Airbus A330-300 – 40
• Airbus A350-900 – 30
• Airbus A350-1000 – 18
• Boeing 777-300 – 17
• Boeing 777-300ER – 36

Besides its existing fleet, Cathay Group has the below aircraft on the group.

• Airbus A320neo – 8
• Airbus A321neo – 24
• Airbus A330-900 – 30
• Boeing 777-9 – 21

Cathay Pacific Cargo operates the following fleet.

• Boeing 747-400ERF – 6
• Boeing 747-8F – 14

CX’s cargo arm also has six Airbus A350F aircraft on order.

Photo: Cathay Pacific

How to become a Cathay Pacific pilot?

Cathay Pacific’s second officers must fulfill the following requirements:

• ICAO Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) or Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) with a Multi-Engine Instrument Rating (MEIR) and same state ATPL examinations credits – obtained without exemption or conversion
• Minimum 250 hours of flying experience (1000 hours and Multi-crew cooperation preferred)
• Must be eligible for HKCPL on conversion according to DCA607 (Please refer to the HKCAD for the details of the specific requirements)
• A valid Class 1 Medical Certificate
• ICAO English language proficiency Level 4 or above

Photo: Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific’s first officers are required to fulfill the below criteria:

• ICAO Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) or Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) with a Multi-Engine Instrument Rating (MEIR) and same state ATPL examinations credits – obtained without exemption or conversion
• A valid Class 1 Medical Certificate
• ICAO English Language Proficiency Level 4 or above
• Minimum total flying time of 1500 hours (3000 hours preferred) including:
  Minimum 500 hours as P1, of which a maximum of 250 hours can be P1 U/S.

Cathay Pacific captains have to meet the following requirements:

• 4,000 hours of flying experience of which 1,500 Hours shall be on a multi-engine jet, military fast jet, or heavy turbine aircraft. P2X experience in Cathay Pacific Airways can be counted towards these hours – calculated at 50% of the time spent at the flying controls as a cruise pilot
• A minimum of 500 Hours on Cathay Pacific or Cathay Pacific Cargo-operated aircraft
• Hong Kong Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) with a Multi-Engine Instrument Rating (MEIR) and examination credits – obtained without exemption or conversion
• Valid Class 1 Medical Certificate
• ICAO English language proficiency Level 4 or above

Successful candidates will be considered for the position on any fleet type that Cathay Pacific operates, including A321neo, A330, A350, Boeing 777, and 747.

Must Read: Cathay Pacific Eyes New Widebody Order for Boeing 787, 777X

Photo: Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pilots’ Hiring Process

Cathay Pacific Airways has adopted the below hiring process for its pilots.

1. APPLICATION – Cathay Pacific invites applications for all roles on its careers page and at times, the carrier also announces walk-in drives in several cities around the world.
2. INTERVIEW – Cathay interviews successful candidates and tests their past experience as well as psychometric abilities to pursue the role successfully.
3. TESTS – Cathay requires all candidates who pass the interview round to undertake a simulator test while their medical records and background are also verified.
4. OFFER – A conditional offer is made which is dependent on the successful provision of legal flying documents like the license. For those candidates who are based overseas, this process also requires a successful obtainment of the Hong Kong work permit.

Photo: Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific FAQs

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