Depends on the 2013 summer block plan (Captain Obvious, reporting for duty!*) but despite the RMP we still have 60+ mandatory retirements for 2013, and some always leave "early" (although is >60 "early"? anywhoo...) so I fugure 150 or so for 2013 will leave regardless. No, irregardless. We made ain't into a word, we can do it again if we stick together!

Plus the associated training bubble 150+ cascading retirements will bring, plus the bubble needed to buff the 717 and 737s. Not saying it will happen, but it could, especially if we're just looking at 150 this year, although I really doubt we will see sustained 50 a month starting in 2013. 2015 or 16 maybe, but not for a while. The economy isn't about to suddenly "recover" other than maybe another quantitative easing spending bubble, which won't last long and I'm sure RA knows this better than anyone. If we do need substantially more bodies, it will be because we're finally taking it to JB, VA, AS and the foreign EGO carriers, perhaps timing it with the collapse of their dellusional fantasy Farnborough order books.

Still LAS is giving 1.5:1 odds against DL hiring for 2013 and the 2013/2014 over/under is 220 (or 221, whatever it takes).

*heh heh heh, I said duty!