Originally Posted by
JKSees
You think those numbers are enough to even make a dent though? Delta announced 6000 pilots tried to sign up for their last job fair in the first minute the window opened. Crashed the server etc. I don't know. The pilot shortage seems to be such a myth sometimes. Maybe a regional pilot shortage is reality. I don't see any shortage of people wanting to fly mainline.
Mainline standards have dropped like a rock. FO to FO, no problem. No degree, no problem. Less than 1,000 CA time, no problem. No type rating, no problem. No 121 time, no problem.
SWA revises their numbers for this year from 800 hires to 1,000. SWA, Delta, United are all predicting big hire classes next year. Those pilots have to come from somewhere. Mainline airlines will hire the equivalent of all the SkyWest pilots just next year alone.
There isn’t a shortage of mainline applicants because that is where corporate, military, and regional jet pilots are applying.