Regional Airlines Still Matter: Why Many Pilots Start There

Smaller carriers remain a key training ground through continued experience-building and career-advancement programs.

Parris Clarke

Thursday, November 20, 2025 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Regional airlines play a crucial part in an aspiring aviators journey. [Credit: Unsplash]

Key Takeaways:

Regional airlines are a crucial stepping stone for aspiring major airline pilots, providing essential Part 121 experience and serving as key connectors for smaller communities.
Most regional carriers offer structured career pathways, including seniority-based flow programs or performance-based advancement initiatives, designed to facilitate a transition to major airlines.
Compensation for regional pilots has significantly improved, with first officers now averaging around $94,000 in their first year, making the regional stage a financially viable career building block.

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Eagerness is a natural human emotion. For pilots finally eclipsing 1,500 hours of flight time, that feeling certainly comes with the territory.

After putting in the time and financial resources climbing the ranks from private pilot to commercial pilot, and all the way to an ATP, the understandable inclination is to go immediately knocking on the door of the major airlines and ask for a job.