What is known about AirAsia pilot pay?

AirAsia's careers site gives no salary figures for pilots. The clearest figure comes from a court case: a former AirAsia X pilot had a monthly salary of RM18,000 when he was retrenched in June 2020, after serving almost 12 years, according to the New Straits Times. The report does not state his rank, so the figure cannot be read as first officer or captain pay. The court awarded him RM198,000 in compensation in lieu of reinstatement and RM432,000 in back wages, less RM118,800 for post-dismissal earnings and payments already made.13

How did the pandemic affect AirAsia pilot pay?

In April 2020 group chief executive Tony Fernandes said pay reductions of between 15% and 75% depending on seniority would allow AirAsia to keep its staff, with 96% of the fleet grounded. By October 2020 more than 2,000 AirAsia staff had been retrenched, Fernandes said. In one case decided by the Industrial Court, an AirAsia pilot who joined in July 2018 had his basic salary cut by 75 per cent while on furlough and was not paid for 11 months from June 2020; the airline was ordered to pay him RM268,620. At AirAsia X, 175 pilots had been reactivated by October 2022, and the airline said all furloughed pilots would be back flying by December.2456

What do court rulings reveal about contracts?

In April 2026 the Court of Appeal noted that an AirAsia co-pilot was contractually entitled to 22 days of sick leave per year, and awarded him RM147,400 after finding his 2020 retrenchment unjust. In a separate case, the Industrial Court upheld AirAsia's use of a "best fit" selection policy to reduce pilot numbers during the pandemic. AirAsia staff receive unlimited flights at 90% off, although flight benefits vary by entity, according to the careers site. A search for pilot roles on its job portal on 15 October 2026 returned no first officer or captain vacancies.3789