Compare / NH vs JL
ANA (All Nippon Airways) vs Japan Airlines
Two very different offers for the same job. Here is what actually separates ANA (All Nippon Airways) and Japan Airlines for cabin crew — pay, roster, rules and who each one suits.
ANA (All Nippon Airways)
NH · Tokyo
6.9
crew score
Japan Airlines
JL · Tokyo
7.0
crew score
Choose ANA (All Nippon Airways) if…
- The two are closely matched on the measures we track.
Choose Japan Airlines if…
- The two are closely matched on the measures we track.
Side by side
| ANA (All Nippon Airways) | Japan Airlines | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry pay / month | $1,600-$2,200 | $1,600-$2,200 |
| Senior pay / month | $2,700-$3,700 | $2,700-$3,800 |
| Tax-free | No | No |
| Housing | Not provided | Not provided |
| Base | Tokyo | Tokyo |
| Type | Full-service | Full-service |
| Fleet | ~240 | ~230 |
| Destinations | ~95 | ~95 |
| Alliance | Star Alliance | oneworld |
| Minimum age | 18 | 18 |
| Reach / height | — | — |
| Visible tattoos | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Language beyond English | Japanese | Japanese |
Crew scores compared
ANA (All Nippon Airways)
Japan Airlines
Apply
ANA (All Nippon Airways)
Large annual new-graduate intakes plus mid-career (keikensha) rounds; applications open on fixed Japanese hiring calendars rather than rolling.
Japan Airlines
Annual new-graduate recruitment plus regular mid-career rounds as international flying expands; windows are fixed and fill fast.
Still torn? Let the data decide.
Tax-free money or home every night? Fast promotion or a calm roster? Seven questions, ranked against pay, lifestyle, career and hiring data.
Frequently asked questions
Does ANA (All Nippon Airways) or Japan Airlines pay cabin crew more?
Entry-level pay is broadly comparable. The deciding factors are tax status, housing and roster rather than the headline salary.
Which is easier to get into, ANA (All Nippon Airways) or Japan Airlines?
ANA (All Nippon Airways) is periodic intakes (Large annual new-graduate intakes plus mid-career (keikensha) rounds; applications open on fixed Japanese hiring calendars rather than rolling.) while Japan Airlines is periodic intakes (Annual new-graduate recruitment plus regular mid-career rounds as international flying expands; windows are fixed and fill fast.) Requirements differ too — check both requirement pages before deciding where to spend your effort.
ANA (All Nippon Airways) or Japan Airlines — which is better for a first cabin crew job?
Japan Airlines scores higher overall in our index (7.0 vs 6.9), but "better" depends on what you want: money, roster, promotion speed or where you live. The reasons listed above split it by priority.