Originally Posted by Lumberg823

15,700ish, with 12,800 active line flying (rest are on ltd, various leaves or instructors/mgmt). The goal I've seen is 18,000. If you factor in retirements, then the current pace of hiring of 22-2400 a year is going to be the pace for several more years. Each aircraft on order drives approx 8 pilots per seat or 16 per plane. With growth of 350ish planes and retirements, I'd say another 8k or so more pilots to hire to fill the planes on order. That number will need to be hired in the next 5 years. Leaving now would easily make sense imho.