American Scales Back Pilot Hiring Plans

The airline is pausing its summer classes and reducing its hiring targets by nearly half in 2024.

Ryan Ewing

Monday, April 22, 2024 at 10:34 AM ET

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An American 737-800 aircraft in Charlotte [Credit: AirlineGeeks]

Key Takeaways:

American Airlines plans to reduce its 2024 pilot hiring by approximately 40% compared to 2023, intending to hire 1,300 pilots this year.
The primary reasons cited for this reduction are Boeing aircraft delivery delays and the airline being ahead of its staffing needs due to efficient hiring in 2023.
This slowdown aligns with similar reductions by other major airlines like Delta and United, and the Allied Pilots Association has stated that the pilot shortage is "over."
Despite the current slowdown and planned pauses in new hire classes, American expects hiring to increase again in the coming years due to consistent pilot retirements.

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American Airlines is the latest U.S. carrier to detail slashed 2024 pilot hiring plans. The Fort Worth, Texas-based airline is scheduled to reduce hiring by roughly 40 percent in 2024 compared to last year.

In a recent briefing to pilots viewed by AirlineGeeks, company vice president of flight operations Russ Moore said that American plans to hire 1,300 pilots this year. In 2023, the airline hired around 2,300.