Yep.

I get that. I guess my point is that is true as of today. I’ve just seen these kinds of projections change before. If the economy settles out, that could easily change.

But for prospective hires, it would be wise to plan for the pessimistic side of the continuum

 

maybe that was a goal in January. They are not fools, they will be happy to just clear a profit this year. one thing is clear, this year will not be like the last three and there are no viable opportunities to beat last year’s performance. Can’t shrink and make more with less.

 

what is the name of the Facebook page?

 

Delta Air Lines Pilot Recruiting

 

latest from someone who was just offered CJO is Q3 of 2026

 

Delta recruiting has no idea what the hiring forecast is. They admitted to that when the Ops Email mentioned a “dynamic hiring projection” month-by-month…

May guess is they resume classes after Summer after they’ve taken their moment to “evaluate” (a week maybe) 2026 staffing. One thing is certain, there is zero chance there are no classes until Q3 2026.

 

I don't think that is what they are telling new hires, I think they are telling a person who gets a CJO right now that they won't see a class until Q3 2026. My guess is since we've continued to interview all this year that there is a pretty large pool, so people interviewing today may not see a class until later 2026. It wouldn't surprise me if we've got 500+ in the CJO pool. If we don't run any more classes this year then fall 2026 for someone interviewing today isn't terribly unreasonable. If we do hire more this year then today's CJO's will probably end up in class next spring.

 

I see your point with the CJO pool piling up. Though, Delta saying Q3 2026 for class can be changed to Q4 2025 or Q2 2027 with a snap of their fingers. Again, my opinion, but I think Q3 2026 is acting as a placeholder until they “evaluate” 2026 staffing. Since they can’t commit to telling the public their hiring needs.

There’s just over 800 retirements between May 2025 and EOY 2026 or 4.5% of the current pilot group retiring. 20% of the seniority list will be retired in the next 5 years; 30% next 10 years (additional stats). The fleet is not stagnating or shrinking, it’s growing with WB’s & NB’s.

The 330 order-book is nearly dried up with approx. 5 more to go; I expect another order of 330’s coming soon. 350-1000’s deliveries start next year too alongside more 359’s. My educational guess is classes restart after this Summer in 25’ (September) to hire for those retirements + growth - Delta is not shrinking.

 

I agree. I think the tariff tantrum spooked Delta leadership some hence the ultra-conservative take (just like Covid). And just like Covid they're gonna end up behind the 8 ball and have to play catch up. But while it may still have some negative impacts on the economy most of the tariff stuff is turning out to be more bluster than actual long term policy. Even if we don't hire the rest of the year we will basically be flat since we pre-hired for the full year's worth of retirements. If we don't hire before summer 2026 then that summer will challenge summer of 19 for being run "a little hot"...

 

From what I heard, management came to speak with the most recent Endeavor flow class that started May 6. One of the new hires in the class was not letting management get away with giving such a vague answer on hiring and ended up trapping the guy into admitting that currently Delta has no plans to hire any more pilots this year and that they are focusing on next Summer hires which would start in January of 26'. Obviously things can change but this seems to be what Delta is currently thinking at the moment and seems to have settled on it unless something drastic happens requiring them to hire more this year.