Pilot pay at British Airways and Emirates structured differently

Pilot pay at British Airways and Emirates differs in more than headline numbers. The two carriers build their packages differently, according to a comparison of their pay structures.

British Airways uses a UK-based salary system. Pay is split between basic salary, flying pay and payments for time away from base. Emirates advertises a tax-free package that separates take-home cash from benefits such as housing, education, medical coverage, travel benefits and pension contributions.

Because the systems are organised differently, comparing only the largest advertised annual figure can obscure what a pilot actually receives as cash income. The comparison notes that the biggest difference between the two is not simply the headline annual number.