Well… this could be a slight blessing in disguise for Southwest. The bulk of our movement isn’t based on retirements but expansion. Our retirements are pretty damn anemic in comparison to the legacies.

Dude, there were several thousand early retirements. No way anyone could give a reasonable estimate. ... you didn't like my 739 guestimate?

less than 500 over the next 3 years, FO+CA

Obviously an estimate would be tough to pull, but I will say it would be interesting as I just came across a early retired Delta guy and he was bored enough to come back into the industry and was hired by our ACMI outfit. Now he’s globetrotting around the world with us having a grand time for a few years and couldn’t be happier. Of course there will be folks disagreeing with: “He’s taking another pilot’s spot and already has his retirement set” etc., but good for him and it’s beyond the normal experience we hire at an ACMI. It is what it is as he’s telling his friends now so yes, it does beg some curiosity but won’t be too impactful like extending the retirement age. He is an exceptional guy to fly with so there’s that.

*Might just have shot ourselves in the foot as several folks will have access to a Delta guy giving them some great career advice and/or his recommendations for his friends to join us will yield some extra $ on the side. Talk about timing.

Ok at the risk of starting a public measuring contest. My AAR of this encounter has led me to conclude I should PM the individual next time. That said If he said several is all I know or personally I know 5 or I guess 20-30 or maybe 1/3 of the total all would have been fine by me and I would have said thanks. I do know conversations I have on this subject face to face are far more laid back. Go figure.

Thank-you Sir

Gen X to Gen Z

https://i.ibb.co/PzqjxFc/6fy2jz.jpg

I'm all for it! Would like to have option of working a couple more years.

i think you’re misunderstanding who millennials are with this one