Used these airlines because their retirement data is available.

source - apc airline profiles and search function for previous threads (advanced search, 'majors', "retirements").

AA/US, DL, UA, SW, FDX, UPS.


Numbers rounded to the nearest 10 -


2015 1150
2016 1290
2017 1530
2018 1740
2019 1980
2020 2250
2021 2600
2022 2760
2023 2860
2024 2840
2025 2850
2026 2810
2027 2580
2028 2580
2029 2370*
2030 2250*

* - FedEx data missing. Estimated 180 in 2029 and 160 in 2030.


Total active pilots -

UA 12,505
DL 11,723
AA 10.357
SW 6,830
US 4,430
FDX 4,288
UPS 2,516

Total 52,649



Cumulative retirements / percentage of total pilots -

2015 - 1150 2%
2016 - 2440 5
2017 - 3970 8
2018 - 5710 11
2019 - 7690 15
2020 - 9940 19
2021 - 12,540 24
2022 - 15,300 29
2023 - 18,160 34
2024 - 21,000 40
2025 - 23,850 45
2026 - 26,660 51
2027 - 29,240 56
2028 - 31,820 60
2029 - 34,190 65
2030 - 36,440 69