As of right now the loss of domestic is offset by the increase in international leaving a net need for new-hires. I think they hire 30 pilots per 777lr.

You need to read a bit more carefully. Delta is cutting DOMESTIC flying 5% more then planned. They are increasing international capacity. A domestic airframe is staffed at 10 to 11 pilots per airframe. A international aircraft is staffed at 30 to 35 pilots per airframe for the 777 and 20 to 25 for 767ER's. This is because the aircraft require 3 or 4 man crews and have a much higher daily hour utilization.

Delta is seeking to cut only 2000 employees 700 of which will be management. Only 1300 frontline jobs are being removed.

Probably because we are increasing international capacity by 20%. Keep in mind that Int'l is a 3 or 4 pilot operation versus 2 per rotation.

We are at 40% international of total capacity currently, aiming for 51% when Hauenstein's current plan is implemented.

FWIW.

sailingfun and I just had a mind meld apparently

Spanky,
Also as bad as the news has been DAL is still growing its fleet this year. We are receiving 22 777's, 757's, and 737's this year and next year and now plan on parking 15-20 older domestic planes. So even without the higher crew ratio we may still need to continue hiring for now. Also we are still undermanned for pilots according to the last system bid and recently won a staffing grievance with the company that they are trying to correct with current hiring. Of course this can all change in a moment, but thats where we are for now.
Scoop

The last AE bid had 80 unfilled postions on the 767ER in NYC alone.

Hope they don't forget the past.
 

I think one of the reasons Pan Am went under is because they didn't have the domestic market to support their international flying. Hope DAL keeps that in mind. See comments below from another website.

Pan Am's founder, Juan Trippe, was the world's first airline tycoon, the imperial skygod, his company the aviation pioneer that came to be known as America's Imperial Airline. First to fly the Pacific, first across the Atlantic, first around the world—Pan Am was once one of the most glamorous and best-known global corporations. Its worldwide headquarters—the crown jewel—was on Manhattan's Park Avenue, the Pan Am Building, the world's largest corporate office building at the time. Pan Am had more international destinations than any other airline, flying to 113 cities in 81 countries, from Capetown to Moscow, Oslo to Buenos Aires. The other airlines at the time "were domestics, like Greyhound Bus," says Robert Gandt, author of the book Skygods: The Fall of Pan Am. Pan Am would have "no miserable lunches in places like Des Moines or Cincinnati or Boise. For them it would be sushi in Tokyo, petit déjeuner in Paris, tea in London."

That a great book that every airline pilot should read. The author ended up transitioning to Delta when they bought the 727s and A300's from Pan Am.

Don't forget all the malaria and yellow fever epidemic zones in Africa, South America, India and Pacific Rim. Be sure to pop all those malaria pills and take your diarrhea meds.

Compared to all that, I would love a good old fashioned hamburger in our "Des Moines".

Then perhaps Greyhound would be a more suitable career for you.