U.S. Pilot Hiring on Track to Eclipse 2022 Levels

Pilot hiring is climbing to previously unseen levels with 2023 looking likely to surpass last year's numbers.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Wednesday, October 04, 2023 at 06:55 PM ET

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Inside the cockpit of an Airbus A220. [Credit: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr]

Key Takeaways:

The aviation industry is experiencing an unprecedented pilot hiring boom, with 2022 setting a record of over 13,000 hires and 2023 projected to surpass that, driven by a long-term global demand for hundreds of thousands of new pilots.
While major passenger airlines are hiring at record rates, freight operators like FedEx and UPS are currently seeing a post-COVID decline in operations and have significantly reduced pilot recruitment.
To address future demand and overcome entry barriers like cost and experience, major carriers are establishing their own flight academies and specialized recruitment programs, including pathways for military aviators.

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The aviation industry is currently in an unprecedented time for multiple reasons, however, one in particular stands out compared to the rest: pilot hiring. In 2022, airlines in the United States set a record by hiring just over 13,000 pilots, almost tripling the previous high of just over 5,000 in 2021.

While the industry has seen significant peaks and lulls over the years, the current state shows pilot hiring climbing to previously unseen levels, with 2023 forecasted to surpass the hiring that occurred in 2022.