Originally Posted by
El Guapo
The question is 5 years from now will the new AA have 14,700 pilots? Could easily be around 12,500-13,000.
Delta reduced hubs, and consolidated ASMs into larger airframes reducing frequency. AA will do this to some extent as it's network realign. However, newAA has room to grow in Asia, and Africa at the expense of DAL and UAL margins.
Ultimately, world GDP will determine newAA net growth. Retirement statistics are certainly comforting.