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Air Canada vs United Airlines
A side-by-side comparison of pilot careers at Air Canada (AC) and United Airlines (UA) — covering salary, fleet, requirements, and more.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Air Canada
United Airlines
Country
Canada
United States
Airline Type
Major Airline
Major Airline
IATA Code
AC
UA
Regulatory Authority
FAA
FAA
First Officer Salary
C$80,000 - C$150,000
$90,000 - $200,000
Captain Salary
C$180,000 - C$300,000
$250,000 - $400,000+
Fleet
Boeing 737 MAX/767/777/787, Airbus A220/319/320/321/330
Boeing 737, 757, 767, 777, 787, Airbus A319/320/321
Requirements Comparison
Air Canada
- Transport Canada ATPL
- Class 1 medical
- Canadian work authorization
- Bilingual (English/French) an asset
United Airlines
- ATP certificate
- 1,500+ hours total time
- FAA Class 1 medical
- 1,000+ hours PIC preferred
- 4-year degree preferred
Pros & Cons
Air Canada
Pros
- +Modern fleet with 787 Dreamliner
- +Simplified fleet — fewer type ratings needed
United Airlines
Pros
- +Industry-leading captain pay
- +Modern fleet with 787 Dreamliner
- +Diverse fleet with many type rating opportunities
- +Large domestic route network
Cons
- –Longer wait for specific type ratings due to fleet size
About Each Airline
Air Canada
Canada's flag carrier operates global routes from hubs in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
Full Air Canada career guide →United Airlines
United Airlines operates a massive global network from its hubs in Newark, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington.
Full United Airlines career guide →Calculate Your Salary
Model your earning potential at Air Canada or United Airlines based on your experience, ratings, and career stage.
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