Good question -I suppose the number would be constantly changing in response to changing market/labor conditions. But the point, which by the way, your above post also points out, is that DAL will have to improve compensation as demand for Pilots heats up if DAL wants to be the airline of choice for pilots.

I eagerly await the "Great Pilot shortage" that I have been hearing about for the last 30 years. I do believe that there may be a pilot shortage in the future - but not at the majors. The connection carriers are now too big and have too many fully qualified pilots for DAL ever to be short on applicants. We may very well not be guys and gals first choice but we will always have plenty of applicants. Any future Pilot shortage will fall disproportionately on connection carriers - especially ther FO position.

Scoop