Air China

Air China is the flag carrier of the People's Republic of China and a Star Alliance member, operating from its hub at Beijing Capital International Airport with a large fleet spanning the Airbus A320 and A350 families and Boeing 737s, 777s and 787s. It is the only Chinese carrier to hold flag status, and its network reaches across Asia to Europe, North America and Australasia alongside an enormous domestic operation.

Flying for Air China

Domestic cadet entry runs through China's university-linked training system rather than a scheme a foreign applicant can join, so for most readers the relevant route is direct entry: Air China is among the more consistent Chinese recruiters of experienced expatriate pilots, and runs a dedicated Foreign Pilot Service Centre handling visa processing, licence conversion and relocation. Recruitment favours pilots already rated on the Airbus A320, A330 or A350 or the Boeing 737 or 777.

Selection for expatriate crew centres on a technical and licence review, simulator assessment, medical and interviews, with the licence-conversion process through the CAAC adding a regulatory layer that takes time. The simulator check and technical knowledge testing are where candidates are actually sorted, and both reward structured preparation rather than accumulated hours alone.