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Application screening
Air Canada hires pilots through a general application route and a dedicated portal for pilots at its Express carrier. You typically begin your career as a First Officer on domestic aircraft or as a Relief Pilot on international flights, operating out of one of four crew bases across Canada.1
About Air Canada
Air Canada is a full-service airline from Canada. It flies under the IATA code AC and ICAO code ACA. Pilots at Air Canada fly types such as the Airbus A220-300, Airbus A320-200, Airbus A321-200, Airbus A330-300, Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 4 other types. The operation is built around Montreal Trudeau (YUL), Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and Vancouver (YVR). Linked to Air Canada on this site: Air Canada Rouge.
Its careers website is linked in the profile on this page. You will find the listed requirements on this page: flying hours, licence, medical certificate, right to work and education. The selection is described stage by stage on this page.
The two phases
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InterviewPractise this phase
Air Canada at a glance
- IATA / ICAO
- AC / ACA3
- Country
- Canada
- Hubs
- Montreal Trudeau (YUL), Toronto Pearson (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR)3
- Fleet
- Airbus A220-300, Airbus A320-200, Airbus A321-200, Airbus A330-300, Boeing 737 MAX 8, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-94
GROUP AIRLINES, ACADEMIES AND PROGRAMMESAir Canada Rouge
SALARYCaptain, narrow-body: $255,000 to $291,000 per year, plus expenses (average salary quoted by Air Canada in its pilot vacancy, 2026)Captain, wide-body: $315,000 to $397,000 per year, plus expenses (average salary quoted by Air Canada in its pilot vacancy, 2026)New pilot, early years: $75,700 to $134,000 (no period stated) (estimate at about 75 hours a month from the 2024 agreement, 2024)Air Canada pilot salary
What does Air Canada ask of pilots?
- Flight time
- 2000 hours of fixed wing flying time1
- Medical
- Ability to pass the Air Canada and Transport Canada medical and visual acuity requirements for a Category 1 medical certificate1
- Licence
- Canadian Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL), current Group 1 (Multi-engine) Instrument Rating1
- Security
- The ability to hold a Restricted Area Identity Card (RAIC)1
- Passport (general route)
- Canadian passport1
- Citizenship (AC Express portal)
- Canadian citizenship
- Right to work
- Candidates must be eligible to work in Canada, and to travel without restriction throughout the Air Canada network.1
What are the application routes?
Air Canada offers two main application routes for pilots. The primary source of pilots is a flow-through agreement with Jazz Aviation LP, which operates as an Air Canada Express carrier. Pilots currently employed by Jazz can apply through the dedicated AC Express Pilot Careers Portal. If you do not work for an Express carrier, you can apply through the general pilot route. Because applications far exceed job vacancies, Air Canada gives preference to candidates with qualifications beyond the basic requirements. For Express applicants, desirable additional qualifications include graduates of a three or four-year diploma/degree programme from a college or university, or graduates of an aviation college degree or diploma. Preference is also given for commercial or military flight experience, jet and/or turbo-prop multi-crew experience, Pilot in Command time, and time on an aircraft with a max ramp weight in excess of 15, 000 kg. According to Air Canada, preference is also given for having flown a minimum of two years with your current Express carrier, experience as a flight instructor or check pilot in 705 operation or with the Air Force, and English/French bilingualism.1
Key requirements listed by Air Canada
Air Canada lists further requirements on its own site.1
Where are pilots based and how does career progression work?
Air Canada pilots are assigned to operate out of one of four crew bases, which are Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg or Vancouver. You typically begin your career as a First Officer on domestic aircraft or as a Relief Pilot on long-range, international flights. According to Air Canada, the airline provides career progression opportunities across its fleet of seven aircraft types. Based on the most recent information, the time to upgrade to a narrowbody Captain is 3 to 5 years. To upgrade to a widebody Captain typically takes 11 to 15 years.1
What should you know before applying?
Air Canada does not endorse any third party agencies that offer coaching programmes for pilot interview questions. The airline changes its interview questions at regular intervals. Candidates who arrive with prepared answers from coaching agencies are easily recognised. Providing these canned answers will likely result in a poor assessment of your suitability to become an Air Canada pilot.1
Does Air Canada offer pilot scholarships?
Air Canada offers several scholarships to support students and young professionals entering the aviation industry. The Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship targets young women pursuing careers as commercial pilots or aircraft maintenance engineers who may not have the financial means. The deadline to apply for this scholarship was November 30, 2025. The Indspire Air Canada Indigenous Students Award supports Indigenous students with demonstrated financial need who are enrolled in aviation programmes to become a commercial pilot. The Urban Pilots Network, in partnership with the Dream Never Dies Foundation (DNDF), awards a scholarship yearly to individuals in the Greater Toronto Area and provides financial support for those aspiring towards careers as professional pilots or aircraft maintenance engineers at Air Canada.2
- 1Pilot (for non AC-Express Pilots only) · Air Canada Careers · published 13 Feb 2026 · accessed 10 Oct 2026
- 2Scholarships · Air Canada · accessed 10 Oct 2026
- 3Air Canada (Wikipedia) · accessed 11 Oct 2026
- 4Air Canada fleet (Wikipedia) · accessed 11 Oct 2026
- 5Air Canada careers · accessed 11 Oct 2026
- 6Pilot, Air Canada careers, posted 2026-02-13 · accessed 11 Oct 2026
- 7Air Canada careers home · accessed 11 Oct 2026
- 8Air Canada careers FAQs · accessed 11 Oct 2026
