How much do SWISS first officers and captains earn?

According to Blick in November 2025, a first officer (co-pilot) starting at SWISS earns CHF 89'000, while captains with long enough service reach CHF 220'000; the paper's headline puts the 220'000 francs per year. In March 2023 Blick reported that under the then new agreement SWISS pilots earned between CHF 89'000 and CHF 220'000, depending on seniority and aircraft. Earlier figures came from SWISS itself. In 2019 a company spokeswoman told 20 Minuten that a trained pilot earned about CHF 76'000 a year as a co-pilot, and a captain about CHF 148'000 on short haul and about CHF 210'000 on long haul. In December 2020 SWISS said pilots can earn more than CHF 200'000 a year over their career. In 2014, when SWISS gave notice on the long-haul agreement with effect from the end of November 2016, watson reported starting pay for a co-pilot of 4861 francs a month on short haul and 6575 francs on long haul, with maximums of 12'083 francs a month for an experienced short-haul captain and 17'574 francs for a long-haul captain. At that time short-haul and long-haul pilots had separate agreements.1213141516

What pay does SWISS publish for its pilots?

In the last completed pay round, in October 2022, the two sides agreed on 2% inflation compensation and a 2.3% pay rise. In January 2023, 87.4% of AEROPERS members accepted the new agreement, which came into force retroactively on 1 January 2023. SWISS pilots also have profit sharing: according to AEROPERS, a draft agreement rejected in July 2022 with 80.5% of votes against would have cut it in good years.145

Where do the SWISS pilot pay talks stand in 2026?

In November 2025, on a 93% turnout, 85% of AEROPERS members flying for SWISS voted to cancel the GAV 2023, which remains valid until the end of 2026. Negotiations on a new agreement started in April 2026. In July 2026 AEROPERS said the talks were tough and that the goal of having a new agreement before the GAV 2023 expires was at risk. In October 2026 AEROPERS handed SWISS management an open letter signed by over a thousand members. Spokesman Thomas Steffen said pilots need more predictability of social life, a sustainable workload and pay in line with the market that makes the profession attractive again. In August 2026 AEROPERS noted that SWISS, with an operating result of just over 189 million Swiss francs in the first half, was the only passenger airline in the Lufthansa Group to make a profit. In July 2026 SWISS said that six negotiating blocks with a total of 17 negotiating days had taken place, and that AEROPERS had paused the talks until the end of August. Ground staff had already accepted their new agreement by then. SWISS also offered pilots the option of working voluntarily until the age of 62 and announced changes to days off that pilots can fix far in advance, while stating that these measures do not replace an agreement.236781819

What are rosters and workload like?

According to AEROPERS in October 2022, the new agreement would publish rosters one week earlier, stop roster changes after sickness and greatly improve stability within the month. In January 2023 the association said some points would be introduced later because of staff shortages and programming work. Even so, AEROPERS reported in July 2026 that staff suffered from an excessive workload and a lack of predictability, while a large pilot shortage meant many flights were handed to wet-lease partners or cancelled. In February 2023 20 Minuten reported that SWISS pilots get at least 32 days' holiday a year, rising with seniority, and that SWISS was short of around 70 full-time pilots. To keep the schedule, pilots could sell holiday days above the legal minimum for 1.2 percent of their full annual salary per day, and pilots stepping in on a day off received 600 to 800 francs a day. In November 2025 Blick reported that SWISS had recently filled only 6 of 32 advertised positions.1241217

How can you fund SWISS pilot training?

The European Flight Academy lists basic costs of 150,000 CHF for ATPL training in Switzerland, paid in 3 instalments of 40,000, 50,000 and 60,000 CHF. With a framework and loan agreement from SWISS, trainees receive a training loan of 90,000 CHF, repaid after joining at 1,000 CHF a month over 90 months from the pilot salary, plus interest in line with Swiss federal tax rules. Swiss citizens also receive 60,000 CHF in state subsidies, so they can start without their own capital. EU and EFTA citizens receive 36,000 CHF in subsidies and pay an own share of 24,000 CHF. Trainees in Switzerland need German at level B2 or higher as well as English, and a SPHAIR certificate instead of the DLR certificate only gives access to cockpit jobs at SWISS and Edelweiss. According to the European Flight Academy, the cantonal contributions already deducted from the training price require, among other things, residence in Switzerland during training.91011