Originally Posted by
Ripinpeace
Rumors at United saying hiring is about to spike late this year (200 in NOV and DEC) and rumor of 2,500 being hired for 2026 for ~96 aircraft deliveries/577 pilot retirements in 2026.
Delta has 73 aircraft to be delivered and 516 pilot retirements in 2026.
United hires 2,500 and Delta hires, about ~500 (if Q3 2026 holds true) for next year with a 23 aircraft delivery difference and 61 more pilots retiring at United. Also, no A330 deliveries set to be delivered in 2026.
United hiring ~2,000 more pilots doesn’t quite add up comparatively, but I don’t want to underestimate Delta’s ability to shy away from growth in pilots, network, and god forbid, wide bodies.
Even Trip has given up on the huge wide body order. It isn’t coming. We are in the business of selling international tickets more so than the business of flying international. First we had to wait until after the contract to get our big order and international growth. Then it was waiting until we repair our domestic market. Now as United operates the largest international route structure ever we still pullback because it was never in the plans. We don’t have the planes coming and will never make a big international move. Every major player in the US is making an international push except Delta. Why fly your own planes when you can pay AeroMexico and Korean Air and Air France to fly them?