• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Foreign Pilots Offered to ‘Live Like a King’ If They Just Sign On with China

By
Michelle Toh
Michelle Toh
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Michelle Toh
Michelle Toh
Down Arrow Button Icon
August 18, 2016, 5:51 AM ET
China's First Boeing 787-9 Aircraft Makes Its First Flight To Chengdu
CHENGDU, CHINA - MAY 26: (CHINA OUT) Crew members walk down from the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport on May 26, 2016 in Chengdu, Sichuan Province of China. China's first medium-sized Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft purchased by Air China from Boeing Factory, America, makes the first flight named CA4102 from Beijing to Chengdu after nearly three hours on Thursday. The Boeing 787-9 is the latest model of Boeing 787 series. Air China will schedule the aircraft to operate Beijing-Shanghai, Beijing-Guangzhou, Sanya-Beijing-Frankfurt, Beijing-Rome routes in the future. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)VCG/VCG via Getty Images

Air travel in China is taking off, with analysts projecting traffic in the skies to expand by almost four times in the next 20 years.

There’s just one pressing problem: a shortage of Chinese labor.

That’s why airlines are turning to overseas headhunters to recruit foreign talent, with the promise of glitzy expatriate packages that can, in some markets, make up to four times a pilot’s salary, according to Bloomberg.

“I looked at that and thought, ‘Man, I’m in the wrong line of business,’” said Dave Ross, president of pilot leasing firm Wasinc International who has been recruiting candidates for Chengdu Airlines. “They can live like a king.”

See also: Why the Travel Industry Is So Lily White

Here’s a look at what they’re offering, according to the report from Bloomberg, citing a former United Airlines pilot who says he’s been inundated with offers from Chinese carriers:

Regional carrier Qingdao Airlines promises as much as $318,000 a year. Sichuan Airlines, which flies to Canada and Australia, is pitching $302,000. Both airlines say they’ll also cover his income tax bill in China.

Startup carriers barely known abroad are paying about 50% more than what some senior captains earn at Delta Air Lines (DAL), and they’re giving recruiters from the U.S. to New Zealand free rein to fill their captains’ chairs.

 

Boeing (BA) executives also spoke to China’s hungry aviation industry in an interview with Reuters published late Wednesday.

“We’re not seeing any softness yet,” said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing’s senior vice president of sales for Northeast Asia, pushing back against concerns that China’s slowing economic growth could drive down sales of its jetliners.

“We’re watching it close. But if I just look at the Chinese market as it stands today, I’m not seeing any signs of weakness whatsoever.”

See also: These Are the 25 Best Jobs for 2016

For more on aviation, watch Fortune’s video:

 

One factor weighing on the recruitment process is the observation that some foreign pilots don’t want to live in China, according to Richard Laig, a partner overseeing Asian business at consulting firm Mango Aviation Partners.

“There aren’t a lot of expat pilots who really want to go to China,” he told Bloomberg. “There are places that are more comfortable.”

About the Author
By Michelle Toh
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
Fortune Secondary Logo
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

Middle EastIran
Trump says U.S. will bomb Iran uninterrupted ‘as long as necessary’ to achieve peace in Mideast and the world after confirming Khamenei’s death
By Jason MaFebruary 28, 2026
21 minutes ago
PoliticsColleges and Universities
Pentagon chief blocks officers from attending Ivy League schools and other top universities, including partners on AI and space
By Jason MaFebruary 28, 2026
2 hours ago
Middle EastIran
Trump calls death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei the ‘single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country’
By Jon Gambrell, Konstantin Toropin, Josh Boak, Aamer Madhani and The Associated PressFebruary 28, 2026
3 hours ago
Middle EastDubai
Dubai’s worst nightmare unfolds as Iran strikes Gulf neighbors
By Dana Khraiche, Fiona MacDonald and BloombergFebruary 28, 2026
4 hours ago
Middle EastFBI
FBI raises terrorism alert over fears of retaliation by Iran
By Myles Miller and BloombergFebruary 28, 2026
4 hours ago
Middle EastIran
Iran’s missile barrage tests whether U.S. has enough interceptors
By Gerry Doyle and BloombergFebruary 28, 2026
4 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Success
Japanese companies are paying older workers to sit by a window and do nothing—while Western CEOs demand super-AI productivity just to keep your job
By Orianna Rosa RoyleFebruary 27, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Middle East
Iran is now on 'death ground' amid existential threat from U.S. attacks and could 'go big' in retaliation, former NATO commander warns
By Jason MaFebruary 28, 2026
8 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Walmart exec says U.S. workforces needs to take inspiration from China where ‘5 year-olds are learning DeepSeek’
By Preston ForeFebruary 27, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
AI
The week the AI scare turned real and America realized maybe it isn't ready for what's coming
By Nick LichtenbergFebruary 28, 2026
15 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Personal Finance
Current price of gold as of February 27, 2026
By Danny BakstFebruary 27, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Law
China's government intervenes to show Michigan scientists were carrying worms, not biological materials
By Ed White and The Associated PressFebruary 26, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.