At this point in the year, it’s pretty widely known that pilot hiring at the airlines fell off a cliff during most of 2020 following the COVID-19 outbreak. Louis Smith said, “The 12 major US airlines combined hired only 98 pilots in September.” Smith is president of the Future and Active Pilot Advisors (FAPA). Aircraft deliveries at companies like Boeing and Airbus have also pretty much ground to a halt. With the hit to the economy, some US airlines began laying off thousands of employees once the federal government’s payroll protection program expired on October 1.
How United Avoided Pilot Furloughs
Key Takeaways:
- Pilot hiring at major US airlines plummeted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to layoffs and a halt in aircraft deliveries, despite Boeing's long-term optimistic forecast.
- United Airlines and its pilot union (ALPA) negotiated a novel agreement to prevent furloughs until mid-2021 by implementing reduced monthly pay guarantees based on seniority.
- This innovative approach by United deviates from traditional reverse-seniority furloughs, reflecting an expectation of quick recovery, while other airlines like American and Allegiant have proceeded with pilot furloughs.
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