Airlines are hiring pilots ahead of a post-pandemic pilot shortage. Mandatory retirements and COVID-related early retirements are combining to drive demand for qualified pilots. Pilots training and building their hours today will be competitively positioned to capitalize on this opportunity.
Regional and major airlines are accelerating pilot hiring to match passenger demand ahead of an expected shortage of qualified pilots. Regional airlines like CommutAir are hiring ATP graduates with no HR interview required (ATP-exclusive benefit) and providing a direct path to United Airlines through the Aviate program.
Major airlines have announced hiring plans for 2021, including American Airlines hiring 300 pilots by the year-end and Spirit hiring 400 pilots. To stay ahead of the pilot shortage, Frontier Airlines has partnered with ATP to offer the Frontier Direct Program, which pilots are taking advantage of in 2021.
Corporate and cargo operators isolated from fluctuations in passenger demand hired throughout the pandemic and continue to do so in 2021. UPS and FedEx are expected to hire nearly 800 pilots this year.
Kit Darby, an industry expert and retired airline captain specializing in forecasting pilot hiring, projects that significant future annual pilot retirements will drive demand for pilots.
Retirements averaging 4,100 new pilots per year will outpace the current capabilities of the flight training industry.
The return to normal growth will require twice as many new pilots.
The factors that caused the pilot shortage remain in effect, and the early retirements taken during the pandemic are increasing demand.
According to Boeing's Pilot and Technician Outlook, North America will need 208,000 pilots and an "adequate qualified pilot supply remains an important consideration as a large contingent of the workforce approaches mandatory retirement age." Further, Boeing states, "aspiring aviators who begin their training today will be well positioned to take advantage of new job opportunities as the industry recovers."
Future annual pilot retirements will average 4,100 new pilots per year and be greatest over the next five years.
A shortage of 12,000 pilots is expected by 2023 due to COVID-related early retirements and mandatory retirements.
Airlines are hiring, and not starting your career now means you will lose seniority to the aspiring pilots training today. Pilots choose their aircraft, flying schedules, location, and vacation schedules based on their seniority, which is also directly correlated to their pay. Your spot on the seniority list will affect you for the rest of your career. Delaying your career by one or two years could mean losing $400,000 to $800,000 in career earnings when you are a major airline captain.
By starting your Airline Career Pilot Program now, you will be able to take advantage of the following and get to the airlines first.
Here are a few of the most recent pilots hired by airlines. You can view all of ATP's airline placements every year, going back to 2001.
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