US Airline Captains on Track for Record Hourly Pay, Nearing $600 by 2026
New labor agreements are set to dramatically increase the hourly pay for captains at major US airlines by 2026. Pilots at legacy carriers like Delta, United, and American will see the most significant gains, particularly those flying widebody aircraft. For example, a senior captain on a Boeing 777 or Airbus A350 could earn close to $600 per hour. These record-setting contracts reflect the high demand for experienced pilots and the strong negotiating power of their unions. The pay scales also show a substantial difference between rates for narrowbody and widebody jets.
Official Source: https://simpleflying.com/us-airline-captain-hourly-pay-2026/