Game Over for Regional Airlines?

The regionals need pilots with experience to operate but such pilots are suddenly in huge demand by major airlines.

Friday, November 04, 2022 at 08:56 AM ET

Verified

Regionals are competing head to head with the majors for qualified crews to fully staff their routes. [Courtesy: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

2022 saw unprecedented pilot hiring by major airlines, far exceeding expectations and shattering industry norms.
This demand led to an unsustainable attrition crisis for regional airlines, forcing them to drastically increase pilot pay to retain staff and meet operational needs.
The dramatic pay increases at regionals, sometimes placing first-year pilots above mainline counterparts, highlight the regional airline model's unsustainable cost structure.
The author suggests major airlines should integrate regional pilots into their mainline operations and seniority lists to stabilize staffing and reshape the industry.

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When I started V1 Rotate late last year, it had already become apparent that the COVID-19 pandemic was going to become a footnote in aviation history, a momentary blip in an era of strong opportunity for professional pilots.

My employer had resumed hiring, as had every other airline and most flight departments and Part 135 and 91K operators. Flight training was proceeding apace, and United had just opened its new Aviate Academy. The coming year seemed likely to eclipse 2019 in terms of both training and hiring, but otherwise represent an evolution of the ongoing pilot shortage.