27/03/2026 |

Pension increases for 2026/27

When is the increase applied?

Pension increases for members of APS, NAPS, Dan Air and Davies & Newman, who are already receiving their pension will take effect from 6 April 2026. You can now view your updated amount on the Member Portal.

For members of the British Caledonian Scheme (BCAL), increases are applied on the anniversary of when you started drawing your pension.

If you’re a deferred member of APS or NAPS, your pension will be also be updated from 6 April 2026.

Not sure which Scheme you’re in? It’s quick to check. Log into the Member Portal, click the down arrow next to your pension reference (top right of the Scheme). Your Scheme membership will be displayed.

How much is the increase for 2026/27?

Most increases are applied in line with the Government’s annual Pensions Increase (Review) Order (PIRO), which is based on the rise in the consumer price index.

For 2026, the PIRO increase is 3.8%.

The APS Trustee has awarded an additional 0.7% Discretionary Increase (DI) on eligible elements. This is payable on top of the Scheme pension increase.

The New Airways Pension Scheme (NAPS) Trustee does not have the power to award Discretionary Increases.

Scheme Pension increases 2026/27

Scheme

Pension increase

Discretionary increase

Airways Pension Scheme (APS)

3.8%

0.7%

New Airways Pension Scheme (NAPS)

3.8%

Not applicable

Dan Air

3.8%

Not applicable

Davies & Newman

5%

Not applicable

British Caledonian

5%

Not applicable

These increases apply from 6 April 2026 to the parts of your pension that qualify under the Scheme Rules.

If you only started receiving your pension within the last year, you may receive a proportion of this year’s increase, depending on how long your pension has been in payment.

Where can I see my new rate of pension on the Member Portal?

Helpful hint – when using the Member portal, click on the heading ‘My pension’, then click on the sub-heading with a red arrow to take you to the page.

If you are already receiving your pension

You can:

  • See your new rate of pension on the landing page*
  • See your pension paid in previous years under ‘My Pension > My pension’
  • Access payslips under ‘My Account > Payslips’
  • View historical and your current P60 from 6 April 2026 under ‘My Account > P60s’
  • Most members can check benefits payable on your death under ‘My Pension > Death in Retirement Quote’

* Please note that your updated pension amount was uploaded on 25 March 2026, although the label may still show “2025/2026” until 6 April 2026. We apologise for any confusion during this period.

Important note: Payslips are available around one week before payday every month.

If you’re a Deferred Member

You can:

  • See your new rate of pension at today’s date on the landing page from 6 April 2026
  • Use the Pension calculator to view future estimates (including the April 2026 increase) from 6 April 2026 onwards under ‘My Pension > Pension calculator’**

Most members can check the benefits payable on your death under ‘My Pension > Death before retirement quote’

**The pension calculator includes statutory checks to ensure accuracy. If your pension doesn’t appear to increase year to year, it is because those statutory minimums are still giving a higher pension than the scheme’s standard increase and we will always pay the higher of the two.

How pension increases work

Your pension may be made up of several different elements, and each element may increase in a different way.

This means your overall increase to your pension may not match the percentage shown above.

Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP)

Some members have a Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) as part of their pension.

GMP was introduced when many company pension schemes were ‘contracted out’ of part of the State Pension (SERPS) between 6 April 1978 and 5 April 1997. Most members who were contributing to the Scheme between these dates will have a GMP. Your GMP becomes part of your pension when you reach GMP age:

  • Age 60 for women
  • Age 65 for men

GMP consists of:

  • Pre-88 GMP (built up between April 1978 and April 1988) – this part does not increase in payment for APS, NAPS, Dan Air and Davies & Newman.
  • Post-88 GMP (built up between April 1988 and April 1997) – this part increases by up to 3% each year.

If you reached State Pension Age before 6 April 2016, GMP increases are included with your State Pension.

If you reached State Pension Age after April 2016, there may be a period where your GMP does not receive increases from either the Scheme or the State.

To find your State Pension Age visit:
www.gov.uk/calculate-state-pension

Increasing and non-increasing pension elements

Some pension options taken at retirement, such as level or non-increasing pension choices may mean that certain parts of your pension do not increase each year.

If you used Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) to buy an annuity, the level of increase depends on the type of annuity you chose when you retired.

Statutory increases (Part 4 & 5 APS only)

For members of Part 4 or 5 of APS, who did not elect to transfer to Part 6 of APS on 16 July 1973, most of their pension does not increase in payment.

However, some pension elements increase in line with statutory limits set by the Government:

Pension built up between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 2005 may increase by PIRO up to 5% each year

Pension built up after 1 April 2005 may increase by PIRO up to 2.5% each year

Only the relevant parts of your pension built up during these periods receive these increases.

 
BACK