Who knew that the coronavirus pandemic would be the best thing to happen to airline hiring ever, but it has been. With the pandemic on the decline in 2022, airline travel picked up, to record numbers, in fact, and it quickly became clear that the airline pilot shortage analysts had been predicting for several years was happening, now. The effect was not only a record level of hiring for entry-level pilots but also record enrollment at airline pilot flight schools and universities with professional pilot programs. One unanticipated result was a huge increase in starting pay for new pilots, as majors and regionals alike went head to head for new talent, which translated into increased salaries for seasoned pilots. There was also what was surely a record amount of airline hopping, with pilots jetting from one carrier to another for bluer (or greener) horizons, which made captain upgrade opportunities all the more available. At this point, there’s no end in sight, as the public continues to make clear that it has an almost unlimited thirst for air travel.
Airline Hiring Binge
Key Takeaways:
- The post-pandemic resurgence in air travel created an unprecedented pilot shortage, leading to record hiring for new pilots and a significant increase in flight school enrollments.
- Intense competition for pilots resulted in substantially increased starting salaries for new pilots and higher pay for experienced ones, alongside a rise in pilots changing airlines for better opportunities and quicker captain upgrades.
- Driven by the public's sustained high demand for air travel, the current robust job market for pilots, characterized by strong hiring and improved compensation, is expected to continue.
See a mistake? Contact us.
