Located within airline proxy statements are executive pay rates. Airlines as a whole are fairly controversial, as they generally have poor public perception, employee wages are notoriously unstable, and airline CEO compensation can therefore carry challenging optics. Still, CEOs of large companies in any industry earn massive sums, and the airline industry is no different. These individuals are compensated handsomely and are paid high salaries while also receiving non-equity incentives.

In general, the executives heading the world’s largest airlines receive the highest compensation packages. Their overall pay is heavily dependent on the size of the company, while their rates compared to prior years are primarily dependent on the company’s stock price. For the most part, the world’s highest-paid airline leaders are the ones running carriers in the United States, which dwarf most of the world’s other airlines, and their incomes can be truly incredible.

Scott Kirby Of United Airlines

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Scott Kirby was originally part of American Airlines, having previously worked at US Airways and America West before that, but then joined United Airlines as president in 2016. He took over as CEO in 2020, during the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has since become one of the carrier’s most consequential CEOs. During the pandemic, United kept nearly its entire fleet and has since rapidly expanded, while also successfully moving upmarket to capture more premium revenue, and United is now the US’s second-most profitable airline.

The 2020 CARES Act capped executive pay rates until its expiration in 2022. In that year, Kirby earned a total of $9.8 million, but his pay has since skyrocketed to $32.3 million in 2025. This is broken down between a $1.2 million base salary, $8 million in non-equity incentive plan compensation, and $22.6 million in stock awards. As seen here, most of Kirby’s pay comes from his stock awards rather than his annual salary, as is the case for most US airline executives and CEOs in general.

Under Kirby’s leadership, United has grown its fleet to over 1,100 mainline aircraft, while stock performance is at an all-time high. The carrier has invested more in its product and is grabbing domestic market share (traditionally its weakest area network-wise), while it recorded a $3.5 billion adjusted profit in 2025. What’s more, United is establishing itself as a leader in the US through new features like Starlink Wi-Fi, an aspirational long-haul network, and sustainability pushes.

Ed Bastian Of Delta Air Lines

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Ed Bastian first joined Delta Air Lines in 1998 as the vice president of finance and controller and was later promoted to senior vice president, before leaving in 2004. The following year, he returned as chief financial officer and was promoted to company president in 2007. Bastian remained as president until 2016, when he was promoted to CEO after Richard Anderson’s resignation. Having served as CEO of Delta for over a decade, he is the longest-serving airline CEO in the United States today.

In 2022, Bastian brought home $9.6 million in total compensation, and his pay in 2025 amounted to $19.2 million. His base salary was $1.08 million, while his incentive plan compensation amounted to $5.85 million, and his stock awards amounted to $11.9 million, along with roughly $379,000 in additional compensation. Notably, his compensation has declined since 2023, when he earned $34.2 million. In 2024, Bastian earned $27.1 million, and Delta’s board is continuing to limit executive compensation.

Ed Bastian has admittedly not been as impactful a CEO as his predecessor and has largely been continuing the same premium-focused strategy. Still, while United has been attracting headlines for its financial performance in recent years, Delta continues to be tremendously successful, having recorded over $5 billion in profits while its brand is as strong as ever. Although the competition is intensifying between Delta and United, the carrier remains as strong a competitor as ever.

Bob Jordan Of Southwest Airlines

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Bob Jordan has been with Southwest Airlines since 1998, and has served a variety of roles since then. He most recently served as executive vice president of corporate services before being promoted to CEO in 2022. Jordan succeeded Gary Kelly in this role and is only the sixth CEO in Southwest’s history, taking charge shortly before what is arguably Southwest’s most tumultuous period, as the carrier fell under the influence of Elliott Investment Management in 2024.

Jordan brought home $5.3 million in 2022, whereas his overall compensation for 2025 was $16.6 million. This was split between a roughly $845,000 base salary, $2 million in incentive plan compensation, $13 million in stock awards, and roughly $637,000 in additional compensation. Unlike Ed Bastian, whose pay has declined since his 2023 high, Bob Jordan’s compensation has been steadily rising, as he earned $9.3 million in 2023 and $10.6 million in 2024, making him the world’s third-most compensated airline CEO in 2025.

Under Jordan’s leadership and the influence of Elliott Investment Management, Southwest has undergone arguably the most radical transformation in its entire history. The airline no longer offers complimentary checked bags, and it now charges passengers to assign seats. In addition, there are extra legroom seats now, along with discussions of a true first class product and even flights to Europe. Many of the changes have been controversial, but they have significantly improved Southwest’s financial performance.

Robert Isom Of American Airlines

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Like Scott Kirby, Robert Isom has long worked at American and previously worked at US Airways and America West. Former CEO Doug Parker had selected Isom to serve as company president in 2016 (while letting Scott Kirby go in the process), and in the process, Parker selected Isom to serve as his eventual successor. In 2022, Parker officially retired from the CEO position, and Robert Isom formally took charge as the new CEO of American Airlines.

Isom took home $4.9 million in 2022, whereas his full pay for 2025 amounted to $13.9 million. This was split between a $1.3 million base salary, $12.49 million in stock awards, and roughly $83,000 in additional compensation. This was noticeably down from his $31.4 million compensation package in 2023 and his $15.6 million package in 2024, likely tied to American’s deteriorating financial performance. Isom was the third-highest-earning airline CEO in 2023 and 2024, but he’s now been overtaken by Bob Jordan for 2025.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, American has fallen behind rivals regarding profits because the current market favors premium airlines with large long-haul networks. American moved downmarket in the 2010s, and its widebody fleet is by far the smallest of the three largest US airlines. Thus far, Isom has not been able to turn around American’s finances, and while the carrier is attempting to become more premium, some are questioning whether American is going far enough in its efforts.

Ben Smith Of Air France-KLM

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Ben Smith has served as the CEO of Air France-KLM since 2018, having previously worked at Air Canada, and he has been one of Air France-KLM’s most impactful CEOs. Smith has been focused on streamlining the company’s offering and has moved the brands upmarket. This is especially true with Air France, where the company has been introducing incrementally improved business class seats while experiencing tremendous success with its ultra-exclusive La Premiere. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines too has been improving its premium cabin offerings.

In 2025, Ben Smith was reported to have been compensated a total of €5.11 million, or equivalent to $5.8 million. This consisted of a roughly €1 million base salary, while the remaining €4.1 million consisted of performance bonuses and company stock. Note, however, that Ben Smith’s salary is the fifth-highest reported compensation package for an airline CEO. Several of the world’s largest airlines do not publicly disclose executive pay, and it’s therefore possible that another CEO earns more than Smith, but the figure is not available to the public.

Ben Smith is the CEO of Air France-KLM Group, the holding company which owns Air France, KLM, and Transavia. Each one has its own CEO, while Ben Smith is in charge of the entire group. As a whole, Europe is dominated by IAG, Air France-KLM, and Lufthansa Group, with IAG reporting the strongest figures. Air France-KLM, however, still reported an over €1.7 billion profit in 2025. The group now holds a minority stake in SAS and is working to acquire a 60.5% majority stake, while also integrating SAS into its network and operations.