Australian and International Pilots Association

What Australian and International Pilots Association does

AIPA is the federally registered industrial organization and professional association representing pilots employed by Qantas Group airlines in Australia. Founded in 1981 and operating from Mascot, NSW, the association covers over 2,500 pilots across Qantas Airways, Jetstar Airways, Eastern Australia Airlines, National Jet Systems, Express Freighters Australia, Network Aviation, and Sunstate Airlines. It is a member of AusALPA (which represents more than 7,000 Australian professional pilots) and is governed by a 40-pilot Committee of Management elected from its membership, with executive representation split across long-haul, short-haul, and group airlines.

AIPA's service offering is built around five 24/7 pillars: Legal & Industrial Relations representation (a five-person in-house legal team with current NSW practising certificates), Scheduling & Rostering advice (25+ years of operation), Safety & Technical support (including ATSB investigation assistance), Welfare support (mental and physical health, peer counselling via trained Welfare Liaison Officers), and Loss of Licence insurance through YourCover using Lloyd's underwriters (up to $1M base coverage with $500K top-up). Delivery channels include a member portal, iOS and Android mobile applications, dedicated phone lines for general, emergency, scheduling and welfare enquiries, the "Stick With It" podcast, and active social media presence.

The business model is membership-subscription based, with three tiers: Full Membership at 0.88% of annual gross salary (excluding overnight and meal allowances, with Second Officers Under Training exempt until line-checked); Associate Membership at $20/month for pilots on Leave Without Pay; and free Cadet Membership for participants in eligible Qantas Group cadet programs. AIPA ended FY23 with a $680,000 surplus, recovering from approximately $2.3 million in collective COVID-era losses across FY20 and FY21, and is not venture-backed or PE-owned.

Name

Australian and International Pilots Association

Legal name

Australian and International Pilots Association

Website

https://aipa.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) is the federally registered industrial organization representing over 2,500 pilots employed by Qantas Group airlines, delivering 24/7 legal, scheduling, safety, welfare, and Loss of Licence insurance services funded by membership dues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Mascot

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: AIPA generates revenue through membership dues calculated as 0.88% of annual gross salary (excluding overnight and meal allowances). Second Officers Under Training are exempt from fees until checked to line. FY23 marked the first year income returned to pre-Covid levels after suffering nearly $2.3 million collective losses during FY20 and FY21.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AIPA is a federally registered pilots' association and industrial organisation that provides industrial and legal representation, 24/7 scheduling and rostering advice, safety and technical incident support, and confidential welfare support to Qantas Group pilots. Core memberships also include access to Loss of Licence insurance cover, an online member portal, and a mobile application for service delivery and account management.

Product overview

AIPA offers a unified membership platform providing comprehensive support services for Qantas Group pilots. The core membership includes 24/7 access to Legal & Industrial Relations representation, Scheduling & Rostering advice, Safety & Technical support, and Welfare support, along with Loss of Licence insurance through Lloyd's. The association also provides a member portal and mobile application for account access, and supplements these services with the Stick With It Podcast for professional development content. Three membership tiers serve different pilot categories: full membership (0.88% of gross salary), Associate Membership ($20/month for LWOP), and free Cadet Membership for eligible trainees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Stick With It Podcast: A podcast presented by AIPA for pilots who want to learn, reflect, and grow in their profession.

Products and services

• AIPA Full Membership The core product offered by AIPA - a full subscription-style membership for Qantas Group pilots providing bundled access to 24/7 scheduling advice, accident and incident assistance, welfare support, industrial and legal representation, and member-only resources for A$20/month equivalent pricing based on a percentage of gross salary.
• Legal & Industrial Relations Service Expert legal advice, dispute advocacy, workplace representation, and aviation-centred defence for employment and workplace matters, including Enterprise Bargaining Agreement negotiation, delivered by AIPA's in-house legal team.
• 24/7 Scheduling & Rostering Advice 24/7 expert advice and support on roster and duty changes, ensuring compliance with Enterprise Agreements and regulatory standards for Qantas Group pilots.
• Safety & Technical Support Service Incident support, accident response, ATSB investigation assistance, and advocacy on aviation safety standards and technical excellence for Qantas Group pilots.
• 24/7 Welfare Support Service 24/7 confidential peer support for mental health, stress management, medical concerns, and personal or professional difficulties, delivered through trained Welfare Liaison Officers and pilot volunteers.
• Loss of Licence Insurance Lloyd's Loss of Licence insurance facilitated by YourCover, providing coverage up to A$1 million with additional top-up options up to A$500,000 for eligible AIPA members.
• Associate Membership Continued membership at A$20 per month for pilots on Leave Without Pay (LWOP), providing access to member benefits until return to work.
• Cadet Membership Free membership for pilot cadets in eligible Qantas Group cadet schemes, providing early access to industrial and legal assistance and member resources.
• Member Portal & Mobile Application Secure online platform and mobile app providing members access to account management, member-only resources, communications including Altitude and Insights, and member deals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pay rises secured for short-haul pilots
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Australian Women Pilots' Association (AWPA)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 February 2026AIPA announced a partnership with AWPA for its National Conference and Annual General Meeting to be held 6-10 May in Airlie Beach, Queensland. AIPA serves as the pilot association partner to support women in aviation and help shape the future of the profession. AIPA also continues its contribution to the AWPA scholarship program.
• Australian Women Pilots' Association (AWPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Partnership focused on gender equity in Australian aviation, including advocacy for women entering and progressing in the profession. Joint submission on the Draft Gender Equity Charter for Australian Aviation.
• YourCover (Lloyd's)minorOthersLoss of Licence (LoL) insurance coverage facilitated through YourCover using Lloyd's underwriters. Provides coverage options extending up to $1 million with additional top-up coverage up to $500,000.
• MGD WealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMGD Wealth partners with AIPA for the 'Stick With It' podcast, providing financial guidance episodes covering lending strategy, wealth planning, and financial stewardship specifically for airline pilots.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Allied Pilots Association (APA): The labor union representing American Airlines pilots. Directly comparable as a single-airline pilots' union delivering collective bargaining, legal defense, and professional services to a major-carrier pilot workforce.
• Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA): The largest airline pilot union in the world, representing over 70,000 pilots at 40+ airlines in the US and Canada. Closest structural analog to AIPA: a single profession, single-airline-family labor and professional body that negotiates collective agreements and provides legal, safety, and welfare services to pilots.
• Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association (SWAPA): The independent labor union representing Southwest Airlines pilots in the US. Highly comparable as a single-airline pilot union focused on contract negotiation, legal representation, and member services, with a similarly concentrated employer base.
• Australian Air Line Pilots' Association (AusALPA): The Australian federation of pilot associations representing more than 7,000 professional pilots across Australia. Directly comparable as the parent federation of which AIPA is a constituent member, providing national coordination of pilot advocacy and policy.
• Independent Pilots Association (IPA): Labor union representing pilots at UPS and other operators. Comparable in delivering industrial representation and professional services to pilots at a specific employer group, analogous to AIPA's role for Qantas Group pilots.
• British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA): The UK-recognized trade union for commercial airline pilots, providing industrial representation, legal support, and safety advocacy. Directly comparable as a national, profession-specific pilots' union delivering the same core services (legal, scheduling, welfare, safety) to a flag-carrier-aligned pilot population.
• Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA Canada): Canadian component of ALPA representing pilots at multiple Canadian carriers including Air Canada, Jazz, and WestJet. Comparable as a national, multi-airline pilot union providing legal, safety, and bargaining services to a consolidated pilot membership.

Broad incumbents

• International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA): The global federation of national pilot associations, of which AIPA is a member through AusALPA. Comparable as the umbrella body coordinating pilot advocacy on safety and regulatory matters internationally, overlapping with AIPA's regulatory and policy functions.

Others

• Transport Workers' Union (TWU) Australia: Australian union covering aviation ground staff, baggage handlers, and other transport workers. Adjacent comparison as another Australian aviation-sector labor body representing related but distinct employee groups.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AIPACommunications
• Facebookfacebook.com/aussiepilots
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/australian-international-pilots-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/aipa_pilots
• Xx.com/aipa_pilots

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Australian and International Pilots Association