TAP Air Portugal Pilot Salary in 2025

dailyblitz.de 2 часы назад

LISBON- TAP Air Portugal (TP) is the Portuguese national flag carrier, operating out of Lisbon, the capital of the country.

Founded over 80 years ago, the Star Alliance member operates a fleet of 93 aircraft, exclusively manufactured by Airbus, and flies to over 80 destinations around the world.

Currently, the airline is fully owned by the government of Portugal, having become a public holding in 2015.

At its peak, TAP operates approximately 10,000 flights per month to and from its primary base in Lisbon and secondary hub, Porto. To aid its safety and secure operations across Europe and the rest of the world, the airline has hundreds of highly qualified pilots on its payroll.

Photo: TAP Air Portugal | LinkedIn

TAP Air Portugal Pilot Salary

Here is how much they earn, the other benefits they enjoy, and the qualifications required to be hired.

TAP Air Portugal First Officer Salary

TAP Air Portugal’s first officers are the airline’s less experienced crop of pilots. While some of them are direct graduates from flying academies, there is also a guaranteed pathway with the airline for those who pass out from its partnership program with FTE Jerez in Spain.

They are tasked with working under the captain, assisting in air traffic communication, among other duties.

First officers at TAP can expect to earn a salary ranging from €3,500 to €7,000 per month (approx. US$4,000 to US$8,000), therefore amounting to a bracket of €42,000 to €84,000 every year (approx. US$47,500 to US$95,000).

In addition to the base salary, there is no compensation for the total flying hours over a certain duration.

ALSO READ: Lufthansa Pilot Salary in 2025

Photo: TAP Air Portugal | LinkedIn

TAP Air Portugal Captain Salary

TAP Air Portugal’s captains are the senior-most crop of pilots with the airline. They are first officers who receive internal promotions once they log the desired number of flying hours.

At TAP, they are responsible for safely getting the aircraft from its origin to its destination, managing the flight crew, handling emergencies well, and training first officers to be commanders.

Captains at TAP are paid a monthly salary ranging between €6,000 and €18,000 per month (approx. US$6,800 to US$20,400), thus amounting between €72,000 and €216,000 every year (approx. US$82,000 to US$246,000).

As with first officers, the base salary also includes provisions for flying hours with no extras paid for the total block time spent piloting.

ALSO READ: Wizz Air UK Pilot Salary in 2025

Photo: TAP Air Portugal | LinkedIn

Benefits enjoyed by TAP pilots

In addition to their basic salaries, TAP Air Portugal pilots are entitled to the following benefits.

  • Per diem – TAP pilots receive per diem payments for each day they spend laying over away from their home base. While first officers are paid €55 (approx. US$60) daily, captains receive €70 (approx. US$80) per day as a stopover allowance.
  • Pension contribution – In order to help pilots remain financially stable after retirement, TAP Air Portugal has a pension scheme. The airline contributes 6% of a pilot’s basic salary into a fund each month, while the employees themselves pledge 1.5%.
  • Staff travel – TAP Portugal pilots, as with all other airlines, are eligible for staff travel discounts for themselves and their families on economy and business class flights. They can also avail deals on hotels and other travel partners of their employer.
  • Promotion prospects – TAP Air Portugal is among a handful of airlines in the world that do not hire direct-entry captains. First officers are exclusively promoted to the roles of commanders, thus keeping internal promotion opportunities extremely high.
  • Medical insurance – All pilots contracted to TAP Portugal receive a globally valid medical insurance policy with a comprehensive coverage plan. This mitigates the risk of unforeseen expenses at the home base or on layovers due to travel-related illnesses or mishaps.
  • Bonus scheme – TAP Portugal has a generous bonus scheme for its pilots. Depending on the airline’s profitability in a financial year and each individual’s performance, pilots may be eligible to receive a handsome payment over and above their salaries.
Photo: TAP Air Portugal | LinkedIn

What aircraft do TAP pilots fly?

TAP Air Portugal operates an Airbus-exclusive fleet of narrow and wide-body airplanes. Here is a look at the aircraft that pilots have the opportunity to fly.

  • Airbus A319-100 – 5
  • Airbus A320-200 – 15
  • Airbus A320neo – 12
  • Airbus A321-200 – 3
  • Airbus A321LR – 13
  • Airbus A321neo – 23
  • Airbus A330-300 – 13
  • Airbus A330-900 – 23

In addition to its existing fleet, TAP Portugal has the following plans on order.

  • Airbus A320neo – 14
  • Airbus A321neo – 8
  • Airbus A330-900 – 2
Photo: TAP Air Portugal | LinkedIn

How to become a pilot at TAP Air Portugal?

TAP Air Portugal requires first officers to fulfil the following requirements.

  • EASA ATPL (A) or Frozen ATPL (Commercial Pilot License with ATPL subjects completed)
  • A320 Type Rating (mandatory)
  • EASA Class 1 Medical Certificate (valid)
  • ICAO Level 4 or higher in English language proficiency
  • Multi-Crew Cooperation (MCC) Course completion
  • Minimum Education: High school diploma (12th grade) or equivalent
  • Language Proficiency: Fluency in both English and Portuguese (written and spoken)
  • Computer Literacy: Basic user-level knowledge
  • Right to Live and Work in the EU: Unrestricted
  • Higher proficiency in aeronautical English (Level 5 or 6)
  • Academic background in Mathematics A or Physics A
  • University degree (valued but not mandatory)
  • Strong skills in leadership, communication, teamwork, and decision-making

Application documentation required

  • Detailed CV with photo
  • Valid EASA Flight License and Medical Certificate
  • Airline Theoretical Exams results
  • MCC Certificate
  • Flight Logbook (including recent checks)
  • ID Card or Passport
  • Academic Certificates
  • Military Status Document (if applicable)
  • Letter of Recommendation
  • Passport-sized Photograph

TAP Portugal does not hire direct-entry captains and only makes internal promotions.

Photo: By Javier Bravo Muñoz – Gallery page http://www.airliners.net/photo/TAP-Portugal/Airbus-A320-214/1574803/LPhoto http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/3/0/8/1574803.jpg, GFDL 1.2, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27331469

TAP Air Portugal’s recruitment process for pilots

TAP follows the steps below in its recruitment process.

  1. Application – Interested candidates must apply on the TAP Air Portugal careers portal by submitting all the necessary documents.
  2. Aptitude test – Those who are shortlisted must submit an online aptitude test to allow the recruiters to ascertain their suitability for the role with the airline.
  3. Psychometric test – Candidates who clear the aptitude tests qualify for a psychometric test, where written examinations and group exercises determine their behaviour in a simulated airline setting.
  4. Medical test – Medical tests are conducted for applicants who pass the psychometric test stage of the recruitment process to ascertain their physical and mental abilities for the job.
  5. Interview – An interview to understand the individual’s background is also conducted by the operational staff before moving candidates to the next round.
  6. Simulator tests – All the qualified candidates must also pass a simulator test, which is designed to establish an understanding of their technical capabilities of the aircraft they will be flying if recruited by the airline.
  7. Offer – Those who pass the five-step hiring process are sent a formal offer by TAP Portugal, which is conditional on the completion of background checks by the airline.
Photo: By Aero Icarus from Zürich, Switzerland – TAP Air Portugal Airbus A320-214; CS-TNJ@FNC;12.07.2011/607bc, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26715222

TAP Air Portugal pilot FAQs

1. How much do TAP Air Portugal pilots earn?

TAP Portugal pilots earn between €3,500 and €18,000 per month, depending on their overall experience, seniority, and type of aircraft flown.

2. Where are TAP Air Portugal pilots required to be based?

TAP Portugal requires its pilots to be based in Lisbon, its primary operational hub, or Porto, the secondary hub.

3. What aircraft do TAP Air Portugal pilots get to fly?

TAP Portugal pilots have the chance to fly a fleet of state-of-the-art narrow-body and wide-body airplanes from the Airbus A320 or Airbus A330 families.

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.

Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News

Air France Pilot Salary in 2025

The post TAP Air Portugal Pilot Salary in 2025 appeared first on Aviation A2Z.

Читать всю статью