U.S. airlines’ pilot recruitment boom is gradually easing
News from Civil Aviation Resources Network on November 17, 2023: According to Simpleflying news, not long ago, major airlines launched a pilot recruitment boom. The Airline Pilots Association predicts that more than 128,000 new pilots will be needed in the United States alone, but recent trends show that Pilot demand has flattened in recent months.
Customized LED heliport H light,Customized inset touchdown light,
China Solar low B obstacle light,China Twin B low intensity light.
The outbreak has brought huge challenges to pilots. Some pilots have been fired and some have been temporarily suspended. Major airlines are making every effort to actively hire new pilots in their post-epidemic route network and fleet expansion plans. American Airlines in particular is aware of the huge demand for pilots and is working hard to attract the best talent in the industry.
While pilot hiring is still ongoing, recent trends show hiring has stabilized over the past few months. According to relevant department data, pilot recruitment volume in September and October this year dropped by 11% compared with last year. However, the downward trend in pilot recruitment has been going on for quite some time, not just this year.
In June this year, the total number of pilots recruited by all major U.S. airlines was the lowest, only 958. While 1,001 pilots were recruited in September, only 114 were added in October. Spirit Airlines recently said it would suspend pilot and crew training due to poor third-quarter results.
The situation for cargo airlines is somewhat similar. Carriers such as FedEx took full advantage of the surge in demand for cargo flights during the epidemic, but their business gradually slowed down. FedEx has not hired new pilots for months and has even advised its pilots to jump ship.
Airlines' demand for new pilots has stabilized but has not completely stopped. U.S. airlines are expected to hire more pilots this year than last year, and some, including Allegiant Airlines, are still actively recruiting pilots. However, airlines are finding that captain positions are more in demand than co-pilot positions, and recruiting pilots with relevant experience is a challenge.