CHICAGO- British Airways (BA) has posted a unique job listing for pilots willing to earn up to $100,000 annually by taxiing aircraft on the ground at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).

The role involves moving Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft between Terminal 5 and Terminal 3 multiple times a day, with absolutely no flying involved.

The position exists because of how BA structures its operations at O’Hare (ORD). British Airways (BA) flights arrive at Terminal 5, the airport’s primary international terminal, where U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is based, but depart from Terminal 3 to support the airline’s transatlantic joint venture with American Airlines (AA).

British Airways Pilots Taxi Operations

The unusual setup at Chicago O’Hare (ORD) stems from the deep commercial partnership between British Airways (BA) and American Airlines (AA). Terminal 3 serves as the main American Airlines hub at O’Hare, and a large share of BA passengers connecting through Chicago transfer to or from domestic AA flights.

If BA required connecting passengers to travel from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5 after arriving on an American Airlines service, the airline would face a high rate of missed connections. That operational disruption would cost BA significantly more in rebooking, compensation, and lost customer goodwill than simply repositioning the aircraft.

By moving its planes to Terminal 3, British Airways ensures that its departure gates sit as close as possible to the gates where AA passengers deplane. This reduces transit time inside the airport and keeps connection windows tight and reliable.

As reported by PYOK, unlike some airports worldwide that allow airlines to reposition aircraft using pushback tugs, O’Hare does not permit tug-based taxi operations between terminals. A qualified pilot must be at the controls to move the aircraft, which creates the need for a dedicated taxi crew.

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Job Requirements and Salary Details

British Airways requires candidates to hold an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate with recent type-rated experience on either the Boeing 777 or Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

The job listing states that the taxi crew will play a critical role in supporting on-time performance by safely ground-taxiing BA’s widebody aircraft between terminals at O’Hare.

The base salary range for the position falls between $90,000 and $100,000 per year, depending on experience, skills, and qualifications. By U.S. airline pilot standards, that figure sits well below what a senior captain earns at a major carrier. However, the role demands far less responsibility and workload than a full flying schedule.

The taxi crew position is not designed for active, career-stage pilots at major airlines. Instead, it targets recently retired pilots who are no longer legally permitted to fly commercial airliners in the United States under FAA age regulations but retain the skill and certification to taxi aircraft at low speeds on the ground.

For retired aviators familiar with the complexities of operating at O’Hare, one of the busiest and most operationally demanding airports in the world, the role represents a practical source of income with relatively low physical and scheduling demands.

The job essentially allows experienced pilots to stay connected to aviation while earning a six-figure salary for a few short taxi operations each day.

O’Hare’s Operational Complexity

Chicago O’Hare consistently ranks among the busiest airports globally, handling hundreds of thousands of aircraft movements each year. The airport operates multiple parallel runways and a dense taxiway network that requires precise coordination between ground control and pilots.

Taxiing a widebody aircraft like the Boeing 777 or 787 through this environment, even over a short distance between terminals, demands full situational awareness and compliance with ATC ground instructions. The role may not involve takeoff or landing, but it is far from a casual task at an airport as congested as O’Hare.

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