Originally Posted by
PA Slammer
So, what exactly does that imply? Those retirement numbers haven't changed from the last few hiring "projections", yet the hiring projections still decrease. And the total end number "rumors" of 17000 to 18500 by 2020 are still out there.
I'd like to see the company come out with a better explanation of why the hiring has deceased (TK issues?) and how we're going to end with 5000-6000 more pilot's (buy a another airline).
My point is that the only known quantity is the number of guys headed out the door. Those numbers are fixed. Any hiring planning the company may engage in begins with those numbers.
Where they go with those numbers is subject to change. We could match retirements, or double retirements, or not hire another pilot.
In my short time here I've seen those numbers swing around so much I don't even bother trying to forecast future hiring, because obviously that is a moving target (particularly with the recent major changes in fleet plans and those at the top who make the decisions).
Whatever target number was said in the past (17k or whatever) is ancient history, just like the 65 737-700s. Who knows what the plan is now?