Current Airline Pilot Hiring OutlookCareer Pilot Demand Forecast for 2024
2024 is the time to become an airline pilot. Pilots training today face a bright career outlook with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting 18,500 openings each year, and several key factors driving long-term demand for qualified pilots.
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Ongoing Pilot Shortage
In its 2024-2044 Aerospace Forecast, the FAA cites the airline pilot shortage as an ongoing issue and one that is likely to persist. Boeing Pilot Technician Outlook projects that 123,000 pilots are needed in North America through 2043.
The major contributing factors fueling the global pilot shortage include:
- Airline pilot retirements versus pilots training to replace them.
- Increasing demand for air travel with record numbers of passengers.
Consulting firm Oliver Wyman noted that demand for pilots sparked an increase in pay and quality of life, with some salaries increasing as much as 86%. They estimate the pilot shortage to continue well into the decade with a shortfall of 17,000 pilots in 2032. The largest gap between supply and demand is estimated to occur in 2026, with a shortfall of 24,000 pilots.
Airlines are Offering Huge Pay Raises to Pilots: To alleviate a spike in demand post-pandemic coupled with a major labor shortage, airlines are now offering dramatic pay increases to pilots in order to retain and attract new talent.
Retirements Driving Demand for New Pilots
Airline pilots are required to retire at age 65, and an aging workforce approaching this mandatory retirement is creating a shortage of airline pilots. According to estimates compiled by the National Air Carrier Association, there will be 16,000-plus retirements over next five years and a cumulative shortage of 28,126 pilots by 2030.
80,000 Airline Pilots Are Retiring
Over the next 20 years, 80,000 airline pilots are retiring and airlines report hiring needs to keep pace with growth over that same period.
American Airlines Hiring Projections
American Airlines plans to hire 10,000 pilots in the next 5 years. With the average age of a widebody captain being 62 years old, American estimates new hires can expect to become a widebody captain in as little as 10 years.
Delta Air Lines Hiring Projections
Delta Air Lines will hire 1,100 pilots in 2024 to support growth and retirements, and anticipates this pace to continue through the remainder of the decade. Additionally, Delta's profit sharing in 2023 was more than all competitors combined.
United Airlines Hiring Projections:
United plans to accept 800 new aircraft deliveries by 2032 and hire 10,000 pilots during the same period.
Major airline hiring projections from 2024 NGPA Industry Expo presentations.
Market Recovery and Growth
Boeing Pilot Technician Outlook states that, “Air travel demand is outpacing economic growth as domestic markets have fully recovered from the pandemic years, while international traffic is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by [this year].”
Furthermore, “to support the recovery and growth driven by expansion of global fleets, the aviation industry will need a long-term strategy that addresses upcoming labor challenges. Investment in early career development programs and outreach efforts that spark excitement among future aviators will be essential to a healthy aviation market for years to come.”
