Size of Delta LAX base
 

Hi all. How big is the LAX base? How many pilots are based in LAX across all metal?

LAX currently has just over 1000 pilots total. About 380 on the 7ER, 340 on the 320, 200 on 73, and 140 on 350. Will probably grow a bit going forward with more aircraft deliveries coming and terminal construction finished. Good mix of seniorities, commuters and locals. It's a great base!

I’m curious to see how base grows on next AE. 350 should be seeing a decent bit of growth. They have been pretty understaffed and Auckland starts soon as well as the 2nd Sydney was just announced as not being seasonal anymore. It will stay. Tahiti is going to be running longer as well, scheduled Oct-May now (ended March). Could be going year round but yet to see.

320 has the growth of Hawaii and 737 seems stable. ER should be growing still if SEA closes. Latin America, Hawaii in winter, charter season for NBA/NHL is very busy. Tokyo still on standby from HNL for ER, slated for Oct but been delayed 4x now.

also, LAX going through some major runway construction on north side runways later this year. So not sure how that will affect the staffing. I fly ER and we don’t really have a whole bunch of originating trips like 737/320 does, but ER bases are so small we do a lot of other hub stuff that was previously covered before base closures.

big commuter base for ER, lot of west coast guys. I commute from SLC. Few ER and 350 guys do for widebodies. It’s junior enough you’ll grow in seniority rather quick and so far in my 2 years here I’ve had a ton of fun. Not a lot of bad personalities, but I’m a California kid so it fits my style more than when I was based in NYC.

Great info here guys, thank you. Not trying to bogard the original topic, but wondering if you could answer another question about LAX. Currently flying the bus, but scheduled to retire in 9 years, and I've got 6 more years until the left seat becomes available, which for the amount of time I have left, isn't much. Can you tell me what the upgrade times are like for LAX in the 320? Thanks very much!

75/76 (er) - 4/2022
320 - 1/2022
737 - 2/2022

350 is probably not obtainable as captain with less than 10 years. Currently sits at 1/1998. Will get more junior with growth but not to sub 10 years.

I'm assuming you don't fly for Delta currently?

The most junior 320 captain in LA is an early 2022 hire. In fact, I believe that every 320 base has junior captains around that seniority with the exception of MSP, which is a 2016 hire or thereabouts.

I think they are all in 2021-2022 range. SLC still in late 2019 range, one 2020 hire. Those should move more junior as fleet grows. Guess we will see next AE with these new A rates too.

I Believe ATL junior 320 hasn't touched 2022 yet.

Thanks very much, very encouraging info. No, I don't currently fly for Delta, but I am based at LAX and am flying the 320. Any thoughts on holding LA within the first 6 months or so? I've looked at class drops, but LA is not always on the list. One last question, is class seniority still based on age? Or is it a random selection process?

Recommend you read through the "New Hire Class Drops" thread. Last 4 of SSN.

A5S