Scott Kirby received US$32.3 million in total compensation for the 2025 financial year, making him the highest-paid airline CEO in the United States.
US Airline CEO Salary
Lynne Embleton became Chief Executive Officer of Aer Lingus in 2021, becoming the airline’s first female CEO.
Given Emirates’ strong profitability and scale, Clark remains among the highest-paid airline executives outside the United States.
Nasaruddin Bakar, often known internally as Captain Nasa, took over as President and Group CEO of Malaysia Aviation Group effective 1 February 2026.
As CEO of one of the world’s most profitable airlines, Ed Bastian remains among the highest-paid executives in global aviation.
Here is a closer look at who Tony Fernandes is, and how much he earns heading AirAsia in 2026.
As a result, CEO compensation in aviation is heavily performance-linked, often volatile, and sometimes controversial.
Below is a closer look at Bob Jordan, his professional background, and his salary package as of 2025.
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian’s fixed base salary is roughly US$991,000 per year, which forms just a small portion of his overall pay package.
United Airlines’ executive pay structure is performance-based and heavily tied to shareholder return, profitability, and long-term growth.