Originally Posted by
baseball
Yes and NO
Remember, that most applicants apply to multiple airlines. When they get hired they may or may not be revoking their application at other airlines.
Each airline could have 13,000 applications, but it is a safe assumption that the same 13,000 (plus or minus) that applied at UAL, also applied at DAL, etc, etc.
My guess is at some point in the near future there will be a pilot shortage - the ATP rule for one and the extreme cost for a civilian to get the training. There will always be a steady supply of highly qualified military pilots but at some point, that supply will be inadequate either because the military might increase commitments or there will be wars and they won't be leaving the service. The airlines will turn to the FAA and ask for relief on the ATP rule and thus open up the pipeline from the bottom up (Regionals to Majors).