Summer pause - announced only 2 months ago. Delta management has already said it will reevaluate hiring in Fall of 2025. United did a pause too last year when DL didn’t. DL recruiting also announced it’s attending OBAP today.. Hiring will either resume Fall 25’ or acutely in Q1 2026. Delta management has said nothing about Q3 2026 that’s simply APF rumor and completely illogical.
Rumor at United was 28,000-30,000 Pilots by 2030 & 2,000+ in 2024/2025, no? Point is I doubt any airline hires over 2,000 with ongoing supply chain issues and no 7M10 which DL is now the launch customer for..
2025-2029 retirements: DL 2,506 vs UA 2,975: 469 pilot diff (negligible). DL & UA diverge the most in 2041 in UA’s favor at a 9% difference in retirements (cumulative 2024-2065 retirements). After 2041 DL speeds up & surpasses UA in retirements by 2052. It plays catchup until 2055 where it cumulatively has more.
Past that UAvDL retirements are a push relatively being the same over a career. Delta actually comes out marginally ahead between the two - at least in my career.
Hiring Slowdownhtml
View post #81 for the 2024-2065 retirement chart developed by WidgetSeniority & UA’s Employee Only website.
All to say, it’s American that has insane retirements numbers throughout the foreseeable future. Though, I wouldn’t trade DL or UA’s financial security for that progression. Albeit, AA is likely best for someone who’s getting hired much older.
Age 67 is shutdown and not happening anytime soon✌🏼