Airline Pilot Jobs in Asia-Pacific 2026: 27 Airlines, 13 Recruiting Now

Three markets share one region. Australia and New Zealand hire on a CASA or NZCAA licence, ICAO English 6 on the licence and citizenship or residence — Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand all say so — and the jet seats fill from the turboprops. Hong Kong and Singapore are the open doors for foreign passports: Cathay Pacific from 250 hours as a Second Officer, Singapore Airlines and Scoot at 1,500 hours, Greater Bay Airlines for rated 737 pilots. The expat-contract markets — China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan — take foreigners mostly as Captains, or as rated First Officers on fixed-term contracts through agencies. Of the 27 Asia-Pacific airlines on our board, 13 were recruiting, 14 taking First Officers and 6 taking Captains.

India and South-East Asia are national markets with the world’s fastest growth. IndiGo’s Junior First Officer route starts at about 200 hours on a DGCA CPL, Air India takes rated A320 co-pilots while its Express arm takes Captains, Akasa hires both seats for its 737 MAX fleet, and Cebu Pacific has said it needs 1,500 more pilots — but the licence is DGCA or CAAP and the cadet schemes are for citizens. Malaysia Airlines and Thai Airways recruit their own nationals only. Korean Air has cancelled foreign First Officer recruitment outright and pools Captains; China Eastern and China Southern take expatriate Captains only, with CAAC licence conversion; Japan Airlines recruits rated 787 First Officers on five-year contracts through an agency.

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Who is hiring now (13 of 27)

First Officer routes (14)

Airlines in Asia-Pacific taking First Officer applications or holding a First Officer pool at the last check.

• Air Astana Recruiting
  Four vacancies open to 31 December 2026 in Almaty: non-rated FO from 400 h, Airbus FO 1,500 h, Airbus Captain 4,500 h, non-rated Captain 4,500 h — careers page
• Air India (incl. Air India Express) Recruiting
  A320 type-rated co-pilots (500 h on type, under 40) on Air India’s own portal; Air India Express seeking A320 Captains (100 h PIC on type, under 62) and First Officers — careers page
• Akasa Air Recruiting
  “Hiring Pilots” page live for First Officers and Captains; SkyCadet ab-initio for Indian citizens 18–40 — careers page
• Cathay Pacific Recruiting
  Three doors in: Cadet (sponsored, year-round), Direct Entry Second Officer from more than 250 h, Direct Entry First Officer from 1,500 h total. — careers page · Study guide (PDF, €4.99)
• EVA Air Recruiting
  Looking for A321, B777 and B787 First Officers in Taipei; about a quarter of EVA’s flight crew are expatriates — careers page
• IndiGo Recruiting
  India’s biggest recruiter: Junior First Officer from 200 h with a DGCA CPL, cadet programmes with partner academies (INR 70–80 lakh), experienced FO 1,500–2,500 h — careers page
• Qantas Group (Qantas & QantasLink) Recruiting
  QantasLink Direct Entry First Officer open: CASA ATPL or CPL with all ATPL theory, ME IR with 2D/3D, ELP 6, right to work in Australia/NZ — careers page
• Scoot Recruiting
  Direct Entry First Officer 2026 posting live: 1,500 h fixed-wing on aeroplanes over 5,700 kg and a CAAS-issued or ICAO CPL(A)/ATPL(A) — careers page
• Singapore Airlines Recruiting
  Direct Entry First Officer on fixed-term contract needs an ATPL with A350 or A380 rating and 1,500 h multi-crew jet; ab-initio cadet route open in Singapore — careers page
• Thai Airways Recruiting
  “Qualified Pilot Recruitment 2026” campaign on Thai’s own careers site, applications opened 9 March 2026; Thai nationals with a degree — careers page
• Vietnam Airlines Recruiting
  Expat B787 First Officers (1,500 h, 1,000 h on B787) and A350 Captains (5,000 h, 2,000 h in command) recruited through Rishworth Aviation from early 2026 — careers page
• Virgin Australia Recruiting
  Direct Entry First Officer B737 open: Australian ATPL or CPL with all ATPL theory, ME IR with 2D/3D; Australian/NZ citizen or Australian PR — careers page
• Air New Zealand Talent pool
  Expressions of interest only: turboprop First Officer (ATR / Q300) is the way in; jet seats fill from inside via the Regional Pilot Priority Process — careers page
• Greater Bay Airlines Talent pool
  Expressions of interest from B737-rated First Officers: 1,500 h (3,000 h preferred), ATPL or CPL with ATPL passes, ELP 4, Class 1 — careers page

Captain routes (6)

Airlines in Asia-Pacific taking Captains from outside. See the direct entry Captain page for the published minimums side by side.

• Air Astana Recruiting
  Four vacancies open to 31 December 2026 in Almaty: non-rated FO from 400 h, Airbus FO 1,500 h, Airbus Captain 4,500 h, non-rated Captain 4,500 h — careers page
• Air India (incl. Air India Express) Recruiting
  A320 type-rated co-pilots (500 h on type, under 40) on Air India’s own portal; Air India Express seeking A320 Captains (100 h PIC on type, under 62) and First Officers — careers page
• Akasa Air Recruiting
  “Hiring Pilots” page live for First Officers and Captains; SkyCadet ab-initio for Indian citizens 18–40 — careers page
• Peach Aviation Recruiting
  Captains recruited with web information sessions; Pilot Challenge ab-initio scheme with Airbus for applicants without a licence, from about April 2027 — careers page
• Vietnam Airlines Recruiting
  Expat B787 First Officers (1,500 h, 1,000 h on B787) and A350 Captains (5,000 h, 2,000 h in command) recruited through Rishworth Aviation from early 2026 — careers page
• Korean Air Talent pool
  Foreign First Officer recruitment cancelled; Captain applications (B777, B787, A330) reviewed for resumed recruitment in 2026 once the work-permit review ends — careers page

Cadet and pathway routes (20)

Routes that start before a licence, as each airline describes them. The cadet programmes page explains who pays and who is eligible.

• Air India (incl. Air India Express)
  Cadet Pilot Programme — Air India Pilot Career Program (DGCA CPL to A320 rating)
• Akasa Air
  Akasa SkyCadet Programme — Indian citizens, 18–40, 10+2 with physics, maths and English
• Cathay Pacific
  Cadet Pilot Programme — sponsored, about 80 weeks, ground school in Hong Kong and flying in the US or Australia; applications open year-round, and open to Mainland applicants since 2023
• EVA Air
  Taiwanese-national cadet route (domestic)
• IndiGo
  IndiGo Cadet Pilot Programme — partner academies, CPL plus A320 rating
• Peach Aviation
  Peach Pilot Challenge with Airbus — ab-initio for applicants holding no commercial or private licence; FCAT (ANA Group pilot aptitude test) required; initial two-year contract from about April 2027
• Qantas Group (Qantas & QantasLink)
  Qantas Group Pilot Academy (Toowoomba) — ab-initio
• Scoot
  Scoot Cadet Pilot Programme — periodic
• Singapore Airlines
  Ab Initio Cadet Pilot (Singapore) — 7-year service commitment from appointment as First Officer
• Thai Airways
  Student Pilot intakes — periodic
• Vietnam Airlines
  Vietnamese-national cadet routes (domestic)
• Virgin Australia
  Virgin Australia Pilot Cadetship — periodic
• Korean Air
  Korean-national cadet and direct routes (domestic)
• Malaysia Airlines (MAG)
  MAG Cadet Pilot Trainee — periodic intakes for Malaysian citizens without a CPL/IR
• AirAsia
  Cadet Pilot Programme — self-funded with financing, CPL plus A320 rating
• Cebu Pacific
  Cadet Pilot Programme — company-funded, 56 weeks
• HK Express
  Second Officer — graduates of the cadet programme of HKIAA, the Hong Kong aviation academy (11 hired from the first intake)
• Hong Kong Airlines
  Cadet Pilot Programme — Hong Kong permanent residents only; ab-initio to a Hong Kong CPL/IR with ATPL theory, then MCC; First Officer on obtaining the full ATPL
• Japan Airlines
  Japanese-national self-sponsored and company cadet routes (domestic)
• Jetstar
  Jetstar Cadet Pilot Program — periodic intakes

Requirements in Asia-Pacific: what to expect

• Licence: CASA or NZCAA ATPL/CPL with all ATPL subjects in Australia and New Zealand; ICAO ATPL or CPL/MEIR with same-state ATPL credits at Cathay; CAAS-issued or ICAO CPL/ATPL at Scoot; DGCA in India; CAAC or JCAB conversion for China and Japan.
• Hours: Cathay 250 (Second Officer) or 1,500 total with multi-crew time and 500 in command (First Officer); SIA 1,500 multi-crew jet, rated A350/A380; Scoot 1,500 on 5,700 kg-plus aeroplanes; Air Astana 400 non-rated; IndiGo about 200 for a JFO; JAL 4,000 with 1,500 PIC on 55-tonne aircraft; Chinese majors 3,000-plus with 500 PIC on type.
• Type rating: provided at Cathay, Scoot, IndiGo and Air Astana’s non-rated streams; required at SIA (A350/A380), Greater Bay (737), Air India (A320), the Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Taiwanese expat streams.
• Right to work: Australian or NZ citizenship or residence at the Australasian carriers; a sponsored employment pass in Singapore, visa terms unconfirmed at Cathay in Hong Kong; work permits under review in Korea; nationals only for Indian, Malaysian and Thai cadet routes.
• Medical and English: Class 1 of the national authority (HKCAD, CAAS, CASA, DGCA); ICAO English 6 on the licence in Australia, 5 at SIA, 4 elsewhere.
• Extras: minimum height 1.58 m at SIA, 165/160 cm at Thai and Vietnam Airlines; bachelor’s degree at Thai; age caps of 45 (First Officers) to 62 (rated Captains) at Air Astana, under 60 at Korean Air.

Every airline in Asia-Pacific (27)

• Air Astana Recruiting
  Four vacancies open to 31 December 2026 in Almaty: non-rated FO from 400 h, Airbus FO 1,500 h, Airbus Captain 4,500 h, non-rated Captain 4,500 h
  Licence: ICAO ATPL · CPL/fATPL (NTR FO) · Hours: 400 h NTR FO · 1,500 h rated · 4,500 h Capt · Type rating: Rated or NTR · Right to work: Permit · age limits — careers page
• Air India (incl. Air India Express) Recruiting
  A320 type-rated co-pilots (500 h on type, under 40) on Air India’s own portal; Air India Express seeking A320 Captains (100 h PIC on type, under 62) and First Officers
  Licence: DGCA CPL / ATPL + A320 · Hours: 500 h on A320 (FO) · 100 h PIC (Capt, Express) · Type rating: Required · cadets trained · Right to work: DGCA · India — careers page
• Akasa Air Recruiting
  “Hiring Pilots” page live for First Officers and Captains; SkyCadet ab-initio for Indian citizens 18–40
  Licence: DGCA CPL / ATPL · Hours: 250–500 h FO cited · Type rating: B737 arranged · Right to work: India · DGCA — careers page
• Cathay Pacific Recruiting
  Three doors in: Cadet (sponsored, year-round), Direct Entry Second Officer from more than 250 h, Direct Entry First Officer from 1,500 h total.
  Licence: ICAO ATPL / CPL+MEIR (FO) · CPL (SO) · Hours: 1,500 h (FO) · 250 h+ (SO) · Type rating: Provided · Right to work: Hong Kong base · visa terms unconfirmed — careers page · Study guide (PDF, €4.99)
• EVA Air Recruiting
  Looking for A321, B777 and B787 First Officers in Taipei; about a quarter of EVA’s flight crew are expatriates
  Licence: ICAO ATPL / CPL+ATPL · Hours: Not published · Type rating: Check posting · Right to work: Permit sponsored — careers page
• IndiGo Recruiting
  India’s biggest recruiter: Junior First Officer from 200 h with a DGCA CPL, cadet programmes with partner academies (INR 70–80 lakh), experienced FO 1,500–2,500 h
  Licence: DGCA CPL/IR · ATPL (Capt) · Hours: 200 h JFO · 1,500 h+ experienced · Type rating: Arranged · cadets pay · Right to work: India · DGCA — careers page
• Peach Aviation Recruiting
  Captains recruited with web information sessions; Pilot Challenge ab-initio scheme with Airbus for applicants without a licence, from about April 2027
  Licence: Capt: not captured · Challenge: none · Hours: Not published · Type rating: Not published · Right to work: Not published — careers page
• Qantas Group (Qantas & QantasLink) Recruiting
  QantasLink Direct Entry First Officer open: CASA ATPL or CPL with all ATPL theory, ME IR with 2D/3D, ELP 6, right to work in Australia/NZ
  Licence: CASA ATPL / CPL + ATPL theory · ME IR · Hours: Not published · see vacancy · Type rating: Provided · Right to work: Australia / NZ · no sponsorship — careers page
• Scoot Recruiting
  Direct Entry First Officer 2026 posting live: 1,500 h fixed-wing on aeroplanes over 5,700 kg and a CAAS-issued or ICAO CPL(A)/ATPL(A)
  Licence: CAAS / ICAO CPL(A) or ATPL(A) · Hours: 1,500 h on 5,700 kg+ aeroplanes · Type rating: Provided · co-payment published · Right to work: Pass sponsored — careers page
• Singapore Airlines Recruiting
  Direct Entry First Officer on fixed-term contract needs an ATPL with A350 or A380 rating and 1,500 h multi-crew jet; ab-initio cadet route open in Singapore
  Licence: ATPL + A350/A380 rating · Hours: 1,500 h multi-crew jet · 700 h considered · Type rating: Required (DE) · cadets trained · Right to work: Pass sponsored — careers page
• Thai Airways Recruiting
  “Qualified Pilot Recruitment 2026” campaign on Thai’s own careers site, applications opened 9 March 2026; Thai nationals with a degree
  Licence: CPL/IR or ATPL (Thai) · Hours: Not published · Type rating: Provided · Right to work: Thai nationals — careers page
• Vietnam Airlines Recruiting
  Expat B787 First Officers (1,500 h, 1,000 h on B787) and A350 Captains (5,000 h, 2,000 h in command) recruited through Rishworth Aviation from early 2026
  Licence: ATPL / frozen ATPL + type · Hours: 1,500 h / 1,000 h B787 (FO) · 5,000 h (Capt) · Type rating: Required · Right to work: Contract · permit — careers page
• Virgin Australia Recruiting
  Direct Entry First Officer B737 open: Australian ATPL or CPL with all ATPL theory, ME IR with 2D/3D; Australian/NZ citizen or Australian PR
  Licence: Australian ATPL / CPL+ATPL · ME IR · Hours: Not published · Type rating: B737 provided · Right to work: Australia / NZ citizen · AU PR — careers page
• Air New Zealand Talent pool
  Expressions of interest only: turboprop First Officer (ATR / Q300) is the way in; jet seats fill from inside via the Regional Pilot Priority Process
  Licence: NZCAA CPL / ATPL · Hours: Not published · ~2,500 h cited · Type rating: Provided · Right to work: NZ resident · AU citizen — careers page
• Greater Bay Airlines Talent pool
  Expressions of interest from B737-rated First Officers: 1,500 h (3,000 h preferred), ATPL or CPL with ATPL passes, ELP 4, Class 1
  Licence: ATPL / CPL + ATPL passes · Hours: 1,500 h · 3,000 h preferred · Type rating: B737 required · Right to work: HK visa sponsored — careers page
• Korean Air Talent pool
  Foreign First Officer recruitment cancelled; Captain applications (B777, B787, A330) reviewed for resumed recruitment in 2026 once the work-permit review ends
  Licence: ICAO ATPL + type · Hours: Capt only · e.g. 4,000 h / 1,500 h PIC type · Type rating: Required · current · Right to work: Permit under review — careers page
• Malaysia Airlines (MAG) Cadet only
  MAG Cadet Pilot Trainee intakes (Malaysian citizens, 18–32) are the published route; no direct-entry vacancy surfaced
  Licence: Cadet: none · Hours: None (cadet) · Type rating: Provided · Right to work: Malaysian citizen — careers page
• AirAsia Unconfirmed
  Cadet programme ongoing (MYR 250,000, 18–24 months, guaranteed placement); job boards relay A320 Captain and First Officer vacancies in the Philippines
  Licence: CPL / ATPL · Hours: 500 h multi-pilot (FO) · 1,500 h (Capt) · Type rating: A320 preferred · Right to work: Varies by AOC — careers page
• Cebu Pacific Unconfirmed
  Plans 1,500 more pilots for a USD 12 bn fleet order; a non-rated ATR 72 First Officer vacancy (500 h CPL) is relayed by job boards
  Licence: CAAP CPL/IR · ATPL (Capt) · Hours: 500 h (ATR FO) · 1,000 h PIC jet (Capt) · Type rating: Not required (ATR) · Right to work: Philippines — careers page
• China Eastern Airlines Unconfirmed
  Expat Captains only, via the airline’s global recruitment portal and agencies (e.g. A350 Captains, 500 h PIC on type); CAAC licence conversion required
  Licence: ICAO ATPL → CAAC · Hours: 3,000 h+ · 500 h PIC type · Type rating: Required · Right to work: Contract · Capt only — careers page
• China Southern Airlines Unconfirmed
  Expat Captains for A350 and B787 through agencies; all applicants type-rated with a CAAC licence, reverse-rostered from home base
  Licence: ICAO ATPL → CAAC · Hours: 3,000 h+ typical · Type rating: Required · Right to work: Contract · Capt only — careers page
• HK Express Unconfirmed
  Rated and non-rated A320 First Officers and Captains on standing postings; overseas roadshows in 2024–25; HKIAA cadets hired as Second Officers
  Licence: Not published · Hours: Not published · Type rating: NTR streams: not required · Right to work: Not published — careers page
• Hong Kong Airlines Unconfirmed
  Type-rated direct-entry postings on the A320, A330 and B787 (dates not shown); cadet programme for Hong Kong permanent residents
  Licence: Type-rated DE · cadets: none · Hours: Not published · Type rating: Required (direct entry) · Right to work: HK permanent residents (cadets) — careers page
• Japan Airlines Unconfirmed
  Expat B787 First Officers recruited through CAE Parc on 5-year contracts (Haneda/Narita); 4,000 h airline time and 1,500 h PIC on 55 t+ aircraft
  Licence: ICAO ATPL · Hours: 4,000 h airline · 1,500 h PIC 55 t+ · Type rating: Rated or non-rated · Right to work: Contract · visa — careers page
• STARLUX Airlines Unconfirmed
  Job boards relay A320-family and A330 First Officer vacancies (1,500 h expat / 1,000 h local, rated) and Captains at 3,500 h with 700 h jet PIC
  Licence: ATPL · Hours: 1,500 h FO (rated) · 3,500 h Capt · Type rating: Rated expected · Right to work: Permit sponsored — careers page
• VietJet Air Unconfirmed
  Job boards relay rated A320-family Captains (4,000 h) and A330 First Officers (3,000 h) on 2-year commuting contracts
  Licence: ATPL · Hours: 4,000 h Capt · 3,000 h FO (A330) · Type rating: Required · Right to work: Contract — careers page
• Jetstar Not recruiting
  Not accepting pilot applications at the last check; published minimums are an Australian ATPL or CPL with ATPL passes, ME IR 2D/3D, ELP 6 and MCC
  Licence: Australian ATPL / CPL+ATPL · ME IR · MCC · Hours: Not published · Type rating: Provided · Right to work: Australia / NZ — careers page

Common questions

Which Asian airlines hire foreign pilots? Cathay Pacific (international passports, from 250 hours), Singapore Airlines and Scoot (sponsored employment pass), Greater Bay Airlines, Air Astana, Vietnam Airlines and VietJet (contracts via agencies), EVA Air and STARLUX (about a quarter of EVA’s pilots are expatriates), Japan Airlines (rated 787 First Officers via an agency), and the Chinese majors and Korean Air for Captains only.

What are Cathay Pacific’s requirements? Second Officer direct entry: ICAO CPL with more than 250 hours and a 31-week course in Adelaide (reported 2023). First Officer direct entry: ICAO ATPL or CPL/MEIR with same-state ATPL credits, and 1,500 hours total including multi-crew transport time and a 500-hour command element (up to 250 P1 U/S) — the adverts disagree on whether the multi-crew aircraft must be above 45,000 kg or above 10,000 kg / more than 19 seats. Cadet: no licence, sponsored, about 80 weeks, applications year-round. A Class 1 to the HKCAD standard and a drug test at the pre-employment stage.

Can I join Qantas or Virgin Australia from overseas? Only with Australian or New Zealand citizenship or Australian permanent residence, a CASA licence with all Australian ATPL subjects, a multi-engine IR with 2D/3D endorsements and ICAO English 6 on the licence. Neither sponsors visas, and Air New Zealand wants NZ residence or Australian citizenship.

Which Asian airlines hire low-hour pilots? Cathay Pacific (250 h Second Officer), IndiGo (about 200 h Junior First Officer), Akasa (250–500 h cited), Air Astana (400 h non-rated), AirAsia (500 h multi-pilot) and Cebu Pacific (500 h on the ATR). The cadet programmes at SIA, Cathay, Qantas, Malaysia, IndiGo and AirAsia start from zero.

Do Chinese airlines hire foreign First Officers? No. China Eastern, China Southern and Air China recruit foreign Captains only, type-rated, typically with 3,000-plus hours and 500 PIC on type, through agencies such as Longreach and WASINC, with CAAC licence conversion.