In this week's 'Arrivals' newsletter:
Q What are future pilot hiring projections?
A Jim Thomas, MD,Flight Training & Standards
Our plan is to hire approximately 700 pilots next year and hope to continue hiring at least the same number for several years. This hiring is a result of many factors, including the addition of our new A350 fleet, our planned international growth, and the fact that a lot of our pilots are approaching the FAA’s mandatory pilot retirement age of 65. About half of our new hire pilots come to us via flow-through agreements with our wholly owned regional carriers. The remainder consists of pilots who return to American as a result of cancelling their deferral from furlough and those who come from the large pool of qualified applicants.