Sepla

What Sepla does

SEPLA (Sindicato Español de Pilotos de Líneas Aéreas) is the principal labor union for commercial airline pilots in Spain, founded in 1965 and headquartered in Madrid with a regional office in Barcelona. It represents more than 8,800 pilots — including those flying for Spanish and foreign airlines based in Spain, helicopter pilots, aerial-work pilots, and RPAS (drone) pilots — through 19 airline syndicate sections covering carriers such as Iberia, Vueling, Ryanair, Air Europa, Air Nostrum, EasyJet, Iberia Express, Volotea, Level, Wamos Air, AlbaStar, and Avincis, plus a senior/retired section. The organization is politically and economically independent, receives no government subsidies, and is governed by an elected Junta Rectora whose members serve four-year terms.

Its core service portfolio is built around four advisory lines (Asesoría Jurídica Laboral, Asesoría Aeronáutica, Asesoría Económica, and Asesoría Social) plus member-facing programs including Programa PAPI (peer psychological support based on CISM methodology, mandatory for airlines since February 2021), Medisepla (free medical advisory), Club SEPLA (exclusive benefits platform with mobile app), the UAS+ drone-pilot affiliate tier, and the Becas Carlos Salas scholarship program (€12,000 per recipient) co-run with COPAC and Global Training Aviation. The underlying technology footprint is intentionally light — a digital membership portal (Sepla Gestion Web), a member benefits mobile app, and a website — reflecting the union's reliance on workplace-embedded syndicate sections rather than software-driven distribution.

SEPLA is funded entirely through tiered monthly membership dues (cuotas) ranging from €6 (basic/reduced) to €66 (airline captain), with intermediate tiers for copilots, aerial-work pilots, retirees, and drone pilots. The go-to-market motion is community-led: organizers recruit at airline workplaces, syndicate sections conduct collective bargaining, and the Sepla Gestion Web portal handles formal affiliation. The union is also a recognized affiliate of ECA, IFALPA, and ALPA, and participates in transnational pilot groups (RTPG for Ryanair, IAG Pilots Alliance for Iberia/Vueling/Level, and Avianca/Gol coordination), which extend its reach without formal geographic expansion.

Name

Sepla

Legal name

Sindicato Español de Pilotos de Líneas Aéreas

Website

https://sepla.es

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Short description

SEPLA is Spain's principal airline pilot labor union, founded in 1965, representing 8,800+ pilots across 19 airlines plus helicopter, aerial-work, and drone operators through elected syndicate sections, funded entirely by tiered membership dues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues (Cuotas): SEPLA is funded entirely through membership dues (cuotas) from its affiliates. The union is politically and economically independent and does not receive government subsidies. Dues vary by pilot category and seniority level, ranging from €6 to €66 per month.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sepla (Sindicato Español de Pilotos de Líneas Aéreas) is a non-profit labor union founded in 1965 that represents more than 8,800 airline, helicopter, aerial work and drone pilots operating for Spanish and foreign carriers based in Spain. It negotiates collective agreements, provides legal, aeronautical, economic and social advisory services, defends pilots' labor and professional rights, and operates member-benefit programs such as Club Sepla, Medisepla medical advisory, and the Programa PAPI peer support program.

Product overview

Sepla (Sindicato Español de Pilotos de Líneas Aéreas) is a labor union for airline pilots founded in 1965, offering a portfolio of core services and member programs. Its primary services include four advisory areas — Asesoría Jurídica Laboral (labor law), Asesoría Aeronáutica (aviation law), Asesoría Económica (tax/financial), and Asesoría Social (retirement and social benefits) — supplemented by the member-facing Department of Affiliate Services (DSA) managing Club Sepla (exclusive benefits), Medisepla (free medical advisory), and the license loss insurance program. Key initiatives include Programa PAPI (peer psychological support based on CISM methodology), the UAS+ drone-pilot membership tier, the Becas Carlos Salas scholarship (€12,000 per recipient, run with COPAC and GTA), the SEPLA-Ayuda charitable foundation, the Aviadoras gender-equality program, the UniDOS cockpit safety campaign, and the periodical magazine MACH82. Sepla also provides dedicated Sections Sindicales for pilots at individual airlines (Iberia, Vueling, Ryanair, Air Europa, and others) and the Sénior section for retired pilots.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Programa PAPI (Programa de Apoyo a Pilotos): The first pilot support program in Spain, providing peer support from trained pilots to colleagues experiencing emotional stress.
• SEPLA-Ayuda
• Aviadoras
• Medisepla
• Club Sepla
• Becas Carlos Salas
• MACH82

Products and services

• Programa PAPI (Pilot Support Program) Peer support program connecting pilots with trained colleagues for emotional support during stressful situations, based on CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) methodology. Mandatory for airlines since February 2021.
• Asesoría Jurídica Laboral (Labor Legal Advisory) Legal advisory service that negotiates and defends pilots' working conditions, assists syndicate sections in collective bargaining, and pursues legal action when airlines violate labor rights. Provided to Sepla members.
• Asesoría Aeronáutica (Aeronautical Advisory) Aviation law advisory staffed by experienced aviation attorneys that monitors regulatory compliance and assists the Technical Department on air safety initiatives. Provided to Sepla members.
• Asesoría Económica (Economic and Fiscal Advisory) Economic and fiscal advisory providing updates on economic, tax, and income legislation for union structures and affiliates, including permanent counsel to syndicate sections and affiliate tax guidance. Provided to Sepla members.
• Asesoría Social (Social Advisory) Social advisory covering retirement processes, leave of absence, workforce reduction plans (ERE), long-term sick leave, license loss, and family support in case of pilot death. Provided to Sepla members.
• Medisepla (Medical Advisory Service) Free medical advisory service for all Sepla members providing comprehensive guidance from the moment an injury or illness is detected, helping navigate specialist care and second opinions.
• Club Sepla (Member Benefits Program) Exclusive benefits club offering discounts on insurance, banking, car rental, hotels, and shopping for pilot members, accessible via web and mobile app (iOS and Android).
• UAS+ (Drone Pilot Membership) Drone/RPAS pilot membership program providing services and benefits for unmanned aircraft system operators at €10/month, with pathways from standard associate to UAS+ tier.

Quantifiable outcome

• Won 14+ labor court cases against the Ministry of Transport regarding minimum services during strikes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• COPAC (Colegio Oficial de Pilotos de la Aviación Comercial)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Co-founder and partner in the Carlos Salas Scholarships program. COPAC is the Official College of Commercial Aviation Pilots in Spain.
• GTA (Global Training Aviation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partner in the Carlos Salas Scholarships program, providing flight training opportunities for young pilots.
• RTPG (Ryanair Transnational Pilot Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018SEPLA participates in RTPG, coordinating pilot representation across Ryanair Group companies in Ireland, UK, France, Denmark, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, Malta, and Romania.
• ECA (European Cockpit Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEPLA is a member of ECA, the European Cockpit Association, which represents the professional interests of European pilots at EU level. Through ECA, SEPLA participates in regulatory discussions on flight time limitations, single-pilot operations, and European aviation safety standards.
• IFALPA (International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEPLA is affiliated with IFALPA, the global federation of pilot associations. IFALPA advocates for pilot safety and professional standards internationally.
• ALPA (Association of Pilots of Airlines)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the global coalition including ALPA for advocating pilot safety and operational standards.
• Avianca and Gol Líneas AéreasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPilot unions from Wamos Air, Avianca, and Gol have united their forces to coordinate pilot representation across Spain, Colombia, and Brazil.
• IAG Pilots AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEPLA participates in the IAG Pilots Alliance coordinating pilot representation across IAG Group airlines including Iberia, Vueling, and Level.
• Vueling, Air Europa, COPAC, and ENAIREminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on PAPI (Pilot Support Program) including meetings with other airlines and aviation authorities to discuss pilot support programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA): ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world, representing over 68,000 pilots across North America. It is the most prominent international counterpart to SEPLA and co-leads global pilot advocacy coalitions alongside SEPLA.

Direct peers

• British Air Line Pilots Association (BALPA): BALPA is the UK pilots' union, directly comparable to SEPLA in structure, mission, and operating model. Both are national pilot unions providing collective bargaining, legal advisory, and safety advocacy, and they coordinate through ECA on European policy.
• SNPL France Alpa: SNPL France Alpa is the French airline pilots' union, representing pilots in another major European aviation market. Like SEPLA, it negotiates collective agreements, provides member services, and is a member of ECA and IFALPA.
• Vereinigung Cockpit (VC): Vereinigung Cockpit is the German pilots' union, the largest national pilot union in continental Europe. It shares SEPLA's mission of collective bargaining, safety advocacy, and member services within a single European country.
• Colegio Oficial de Pilotos de la Aviación Comercial (COPAC): COPAC is the Official College of Commercial Aviation Pilots in Spain, a parallel professional body for Spanish pilots. SEPLA co-runs the Carlos Salas scholarships with COPAC, and the two organizations represent overlapping Spanish pilot constituencies.
• ANPAC: ANPAC is the Italian airline pilots' association, structurally similar to SEPLA as a national pilots' union. It engages in collective bargaining for Italian-based pilots and participates in ECA and IFALPA alongside SEPLA.

Others

• European Cockpit Association (ECA): ECA is the umbrella federation of European pilot unions, of which SEPLA is a member. It operates as a coordinating and lobbying body rather than a direct collective bargaining union, but it amplifies SEPLA's voice at the EU level.
• International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA): IFALPA is the global federation of pilot associations, of which SEPLA is an affiliate. It provides international advocacy on safety and professional standards but does not perform direct labor representation like SEPLA does.
• Ryanair Transnational Pilot Group (RTPG): RTPG is a coalition of pilot unions from 11 European countries (including SEPLA) that coordinate Ryanair pilot representation across borders. SEPLA actively participates in RTPG, making it a peer organization in cross-border pilot representation strategy.

Regional players

• Austrian Pilots Association (APA): APA represents Austrian airline pilots and is part of the European pilot union ecosystem coordinated through ECA. It is comparable to SEPLA in mission but operates within a smaller national aviation market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sepla_pilotos
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@seplanews
• Facebookfacebook.com/SindicatoPilotosSepla
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sepla
• Instagraminstagram.com/sepla_pilotos

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Sepla