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 projected to continue strong growth in 2026, building on accelerated activity in late 2025, with major airlines like American, United, and Delta announcing substantial hiring targets.
This sustained demand is primarily driven by mandatory pilot retirements, estimated at over 16,000 in the next five years, and the expansion of global air travel, forecasting a significant pilot shortage by 2030.
ATP Flight School, as a leading training institute, placed nearly 1,000 graduates in 2025, notably contributing one in four new regional airline pilots.

See a mistake? Contact us.

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.