Originally Posted by
Whacker77
I'm probably talking out of turn, but it is conceivable AA could bring in new hire classes by next Spring. While retiring a cetain number of 80's, they are also brining online new 73's at a modest clip. Adding planes while grounding others isn't a bad thing, right?
More importantly and someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't AA have more pilots over 60 than under 40? If true, retirements, especially early ones, could make hiring needed despite other actions.
Finally and while I don't think the economy is great, there has been some modest recovery in aviation travel. We've been bouncing along the bottom for a while and, thanks to various factors, airlines aren't talking about furloughs, but rather recalls and even the possibility of hiring.
I'm not an optimistic guy, but projections for new hiring aren't as crazy as they might sound.
All of what you say MIGHT come true. AA is getting new 737's and parking some 80's. Actual growth of the airline would be nice (rather than just replacement of old hardware), but so far "growth" at AA appears to be nothing more than a negotiating tactic ("we can either grow this airline, or we can try to pay you greedy pilots more...but we can't do both"). AA's pilot group is old, but can't verify if your numbers are correct. Probably are. But yes, old guys will be retiring in bigger numbers (2014 is think is when the wave starts to build?). As for the economy overall...well, the country is in debt up to it's arse and those that put it there can't agree on raising the debt ceiling - which will lead to complete financial Armageddon if not addressed - unemployment numbers are no better than they were months ago, and there are signs that inflation is on the rise.
Is your glass half empty or half full? Based on AMR's past, mine is bone dry. Assuming AA doesn't go completely belly up, they will need to replace old airplanes and old pilots, but the big question is: Will it be a place anybody wants to work?