A Superheated Shortage

The ongoing pilot shortage, which has been decades in the making, has recently delivered satisfying scenes of deferred comeuppance, according to a professional pilot.

Sam Weigel

Monday, April 17, 2023 at 01:39 PM ET

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The pilot shortage has been three decades in the making, writes Sam Weigel. [Credit: iStock]

Key Takeaways:

A severe and long-predicted pilot shortage has led to unprecedented pay increases for regional airline pilots across the industry, with some new first officer contracts seeing raises up to 88%.
While regional pilots are experiencing a pay boom, mainline pilots (like the author) have also pushed for new contracts, leading to significant negotiations and strike votes.
Airlines, previously resistant to increased compensation, have been forced to offer substantial pay packages to combat high attrition rates and attract new talent.
The author cautions that the current "superheated froth" of opportunity in aviation may not be sustainable, reminding new pilots that the industry is cyclical and prone to ruthless downturns.

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Great news, friends: This week, my airline agreed to a record-breaking pilot contract. Among other golden nuggets, it contains an eye-watering 88 percent raise for new first officers and a nearly-as-impressive 61 percent raise for captains!

Now, before you rush down to your local Western Union to wire congratulatory telegrams, I should clarify that this agreement does not apply to yours truly and my fellow mainline pilots, but rather to the small-jet crews at our wholly-owned regional airline. I’m quite happy for them, mind you, because they’re a hardworking team. I did their job for a decade for a lot less pay, and I know they’ve earned everything coming to them.