Compare / IB vs TP
Iberia vs TAP Air Portugal
Two very different offers for the same job. Here is what actually separates Iberia and TAP Air Portugal for cabin crew — pay, roster, rules and who each one suits.
Iberia
IB · Madrid
6.9
crew score
TAP Air Portugal
TP · Lisbon
6.4
crew score
Choose Iberia if…
- ✓Starting pay is higher — about 28% more per month
- ✓Faster progression (career 6.8 vs 6.2)
- ✓Bigger network: ~140 destinations vs ~90
Choose TAP Air Portugal if…
- The two are closely matched on the measures we track.
Side by side
| Iberia | TAP Air Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry pay / month | $1,600-$2,100 | $1,200-$1,700 |
| Senior pay / month | $2,700-$3,900 | $2,400-$3,600 |
| Tax-free | No | No |
| Housing | Not provided | Not provided |
| Base | Madrid | Lisbon |
| Type | Full-service | Full-service |
| Fleet | ~140 | ~100 |
| Destinations | ~140 | ~90 |
| Alliance | oneworld | Star Alliance |
| Minimum age | 18 | 18 |
| Reach / height | 160 cm | 160 cm |
| Visible tattoos | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Language beyond English | Spanish | Portuguese |
Crew scores compared
Iberia
TAP Air Portugal
Apply
Iberia
Campaigns tied to A350 deliveries and summer seasons; large intakes announced on the Iberia jobs portal and via Spanish crew schools, often with temporary contracts converting later.
TAP Air Portugal
Recruitment runs in occasional campaigns as fleet plans firm up around privatisation; openings appear on the TAP careers portal and via Portuguese aviation schools, usually requiring fluent Portuguese.
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 Iberia or TAP Air Portugal pay cabin crew more?
Iberia pays more at entry level: about $1,600-$2,100 a month against $1,200-$1,700. Remember to weigh tax status and housing before comparing headline figures.
Which is easier to get into, Iberia or TAP Air Portugal?
Iberia is periodic intakes (Campaigns tied to A350 deliveries and summer seasons; large intakes announced on the Iberia jobs portal and via Spanish crew schools, often with temporary contracts converting later.) while TAP Air Portugal is periodic intakes (Recruitment runs in occasional campaigns as fleet plans firm up around privatisation; openings appear on the TAP careers portal and via Portuguese aviation schools, usually requiring fluent Portuguese.) Requirements differ too — check both requirement pages before deciding where to spend your effort.
Iberia or TAP Air Portugal — which is better for a first cabin crew job?
Iberia scores higher overall in our index (6.9 vs 6.4), but "better" depends on what you want: money, roster, promotion speed or where you live. The reasons listed above split it by priority.