ATP Flight School Predicts Big Year for Pilot Hiring

Major carriers saw hiring rise going into a demand-heavy 2026.

Caleb Revill

Friday, January 23, 2026 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

Estimates from the National Air Carrier Association show more than 16,000 mandatory pilot retirements over the next five years and a cumulative shortage of 28,126 pilots by 2030. [Credit: ATP Flight School]

Key Takeaways:

Pilot hiring is expected to continue growing in 2026, following accelerated activity in late 2025, with major airlines like American, United, and Delta setting aggressive hiring targets.
Major airlines project significant pilot recruitment in 2026, with United Airlines aiming for approximately 2,500 pilots, American Airlines for 1,500, and Delta planning 600 in the first quarter alone.
This sustained demand is primarily driven by mandatory pilot retirements and the expansion of global air travel, contributing to an estimated cumulative shortage of over 28,000 pilots by 2030.

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ATP Flight School expects pilot hiring to continue growing in 2026 after accelerated activity in the fourth quarter of 2025.

According to a news release from the largest pilot training institute in the U.S., American Airlines and United Airlines increased their hiring to a combined 500 pilots per month at the end of 2025. These numbers are anticipated to continue into the first quarter of 2026.