Why would Allegiant hire more pilots than what they already have?
Per 3Q 2017 press release:
Allegiant Travel Company - News Release
(Table didnt copy well)
Aircraft fleet plan by end of period
Aircraft - (seats per AC) 3Q17 YE17 1Q18 2Q18 3Q18 YE18
MD-80 (166 seats) 40 37 35 29 20 —
757 (215 seats) 2 — — — — —
A319 (156 seats) 21 22 25 31 31 32
A320 (177/186 seats) 26 29 34 42 45 50
Total 89 88 94 102 96 82
Aircraft listed in table above include only in-service aircraft, planned retirements and future aircraft under contract (subject to change)
Allegiant currently has 89 planes and plans to have 82 by the end of 2018 after the 80s are gone. A net DECREASE of 7 planes. 4 crews per plane makes them overstaffed of about 60 pilots. What am I missing here?