How Southwest Airlines' 'Trip For Pay' Model Pushes Senior Boeing 737 Captains Past $450,000 In 2026

Southwest Airlines pilots have long been among the highest-paid aviators in the United States, but the airline's latest compensation figures show just how lucrative working for the airline has become. Under the 2024 SWAPA contract, year 12 first officers are earning roughly $255 (€222) per hour while senior captains receive an equivalent rate of approximately $364 (€316) per hour.