At this point in the year, it’s pretty widely known that pilot hiring at the airlines fell off a cliff during most of 2020 following the COVID-19 outbreak. Louis Smith said, “The 12 major US airlines combined hired only 98 pilots in September.” Smith is president of the Future and Active Pilot Advisors (FAPA). Aircraft deliveries at companies like Boeing and Airbus have also pretty much ground to a halt. With the hit to the economy, some US airlines began laying off thousands of employees once the federal government’s payroll protection program expired on October 1.
How United Avoided Pilot Furloughs
Key Takeaways:
- The airline industry experienced a severe downturn in 2020 due to COVID-19, leading to a drastic drop in pilot hiring and thousands of layoffs after federal payroll protection expired.
- Some major airlines, like United, negotiated unprecedented agreements with pilot unions to avoid furloughs, opting instead for measures such as reduced pay and part-time work.
- This strategic shift from traditional furloughing, observed at United while American and Allegiant proceeded with layoffs, suggests an expectation among some airlines and unions for a quick recovery and future pilot demand.
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