The guys furloughed after 9/11 sat around for a while. It was really bleak. Allegheny hired a few in 2002, and mid year ACA began hiring a lot. Colgan did some hiring in mid 2002 and a lot at the end of 2002. Many furloughed ExpressJet got jobs on the 1900 at Commutair. Then in 2003 it got bad again. ACA began furloughing and most airlines were stagnant. The Iraq war and SARS really messed up the airline recovery. At the end of 2003 and early 2004 Express Jet and American Eagle started recalling and hiring. ASA,TSA and others began hiring many. It was amazing how fast things opened up.

SWA, Jetblue, Netjets, and other LCC's were always hiring off and on, and in 2005 CAL started to hire. 2007 almost every airline was wide open for hiring.

My point is it has looked as bad as now or worse before.