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For those interested, DL pilots got an internal update today, with some 2026 hiring news:
- Current CJO holders have already had the background check process restarted.
- There will be interviews starting in October,
- Classes will be "in the first half of 2026". However, in the last 15 years, if DL has been hiring at all, they have always had January Classes, to staff for the Spring Break/Summer rush.
- Hiring for retirements and natural attrition. Specific numbers will not be shared. *
- They are being coy about numbers/pacing. They like to keep cards closet their chest to "stay niimble" - aka so changes don't reflect poorly.

Hope that helps somebody. Best of luck.


* FWIW, we have about 500 retirements total in 2026, but... From the last NH class in May 25 through Dec 26, there will be about 800 retirements. Anything less than 500 will be shrinkage, and we do have more aircraft deliveries than retirements on the books. If they keep to this year's M.O., they will hire from Jan-May or June. I would't be surprised if they keep hiring though the summer of 26 though, IMO. /FWIW

 

Thanks. Yeah. OAK is definitely a shocker. And SAN. Sorry.

 

2500+ to be hired in 2026 at UA.
Pilots either furloughed or from a distressed ALPA carrier gets into the small stack for interviews.

I had recurrent the past two days and interview suits were EVERYWHERE at TK…… get those apps in ASAP.

 

And for United, they told us at the interview that they're trying to give class date priority to Spirit. United likes Spirit peeps. Get those apps in and do prep.

 

you going to UAL or AA?

 

I don’t want to hijack thread, but this post is way too optimistic. They shared specific numbers. They said “several hundred.” This means more than 300 but not many more. It means company is shrinking. Jesus, am I the only one that can read between the lines?

 

Delta does as well. Good group of people there at NK. They do great in training and are solid on the line. I hope we hire as many as we can here at DAL. Get those apps out.

 

For the case in SAN, I think SW is in a turf war there with AK so hard to make headway.

 

UA. They were always my first choice. I deferred my class at AA. Excited to start.

 

SWA opened its hiring window today to fill November and December classes, no 2026 hiring info has been put out yet.