I wouldn't get too worked up over this claim. Statements like this are usually tossed out just before a contract vote in the hope of dazzling the easily suckered. As it stands now, there are 2500 pilots who have recall rights or AA flow thru numbers at AE. Not all would return, so it's possible street hiring would occur, but again statements like this are easy, whereas actually seeing (or needing) 500 pilots/year over the next 5 is more elusive.