Major U.S. Airlines Hire Fewer Pilots in 2023

Despite an overall reduction in pilot hiring trends, some airlines reported a record year in 2023.

Ryan Ewing

Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 02:59 PM ET

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Inside the cockpit of an Air Italy Boeing 737 Max. [Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr]

Key Takeaways:

Major U.S. airlines hired 12,335 pilots in 2023, a 6.2% decrease from 2022, but still marking the second-highest hiring year on record.
Pilot hiring varied significantly among carriers; Allegiant, American, Delta, and Southwest had record hiring years, while others like Spirit, FedEx, and UPS halted or reduced recruitment.
Despite the overall decrease, lucrative opportunities persist, particularly at regional carriers offering substantial bonuses for direct-entry captains.
Projections for 2024 indicate a further reduction in pilot hiring to 75% of recent years' figures, though still expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels.

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Major U.S. airlines hired fewer pilots year-over-year in 2023, according to data from pilot career advisory firm FAPA. In total, the 13 U.S. major airlines that FAPA tracks recorded 12,335 new hires, a 6.2% decrease from 2022 figures.

This decrease comes on the heels of some airlines halting pilot hiring altogether. In October 2023, ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) Spirit indefinitely suspended hiring. Both FedEx and UPS have advised pilots already on property to look at flying at regional carriers, while also significantly pulling back the throttles on hiring.