DLR How much does pilot training cost?
At the Lufthansa Group's European Flight Academy, pilot training costs 130,000 EUR (Germany) or CHF 150,000 (Switzerland) according to EFA, as of September 2026. Extras such as the DLR certificate and medical come on top. Financing models cut your own share to 10,000 EUR or as little as CHF 0.
Pilot training is one of the most expensive vocational paths there is. For the route through the European Flight Academy (EFA), the Lufthansa Group's flight school, EFA itself publishes clear package prices: 130,000 EUR for training in Germany and CHF 150,000 for training in Switzerland (as of September 2026). The key distinction is between the price and what you actually have to find yourself upfront. Thanks to financing models, your own share is much smaller.
What does training at the European Flight Academy cost?
| EFA Germany | EFA Switzerland (SWISS route) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price according to EFA | 130,000 EUR | CHF 150,000 |
| Payment | 10,000 EUR own share, remainder via Brain Capital | three instalments: 40,000 / 50,000 / 60,000 |
| Locations | includes a USA phase (transfers in the package) | Grenchen and Phoenix (USA) |
| Accommodation | included in the package | included at both locations |
| Own share with financing | 10,000 EUR | CHF 0 (Swiss citizens) or CHF 24,000 (EU/EFTA) |
According to EFA, the German package covers theory, practical training, materials, exams, the USA transfers, accommodation and uniform. The Swiss price already has the cantonal contributions (HFSV) deducted. An older figure from 2022 put the German price at 105,000 EUR with a 30,000 EUR own contribution. Those numbers are outdated.
Which costs come on top?
According to EFA, you pay for a few items yourself that are not part of the package:
- DLR certificate: 427 EUR at the regular price via the EFA webshop; 417.69 EUR plus VAT directly with the DLR (2026). Details under How much does the DLR test cost?.
- Aeromedical certificate (EASA Class 1).
- US visa for the training phase in the USA.
- iPad as a working device.
- Add travel to the selection dates and your normal living expenses.
We deliberately give no amounts for the medical and visa here, because they vary by country and provider.
How much do you really have to pay yourself?
That depends on the country and your citizenship. In Germany, your own contribution is 10,000 EUR according to EFA; the remaining 120,000 EUR is covered by the education fund Brain Capital, which you repay later as a share of your income. A Lufthansa Group support programme can also cover those 10,000 EUR for qualified applicants.
In Switzerland, the model combines a federal contribution (CHF 60,000 for Swiss citizens, CHF 36,000 for EU/EFTA citizens) with a SWISS training loan of CHF 90,000. For Swiss citizens that results in an own share of CHF 0, for EU/EFTA citizens CHF 24,000. According to the SWISS newsroom on 11 March 2025, no advance financing has been required since June 2025. How the models work in detail is explained under How do you finance pilot training?.
What about private flight schools?
Private flight schools (ATOs) set their own prices, and packages differ in what they include (accommodation, exam fees, type rating). We have no verified comparison figures for them. Ask for written offers and compare the scope item by item against the list above.
The full route is explained in How to become a Lufthansa pilot (EFA) and How to become a SWISS pilot; all financing figures are collected in Pilot training: costs and financing. What you earn after training is covered under How much do pilots earn?.
ImportantPrices and terms change. Only the current information from EFA, SWISS and the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA/BAZL) is binding. This page is not financial advice.