Airline Pilot Demand Returns to Pre-Pandemic Levels

Industry experts highlight ongoing opportunities for pilots despite the slowdown in hiring. Airlines are currently hiring far fewer pilots than in the initial post-pandemic years. Some carriers have hired only a handful of pilots or none at all during 2024 and early 2025.

However, industry analysts suggest that this decline reflects a settling rather than a significant downturn, with current hiring levels now aligning with those seen in 2019 and earlier.

Major airlines onboarded 1,139 pilots in January and February, marking a 34% decline compared to the same period in 2024, according to data from the Future and Active Pilots Alliance (FAPA). Full-year hiring also dropped sharply, falling from 12,196 in 2023 to 4,834 in 2024, compared to 13,128 during the peak in 2022.

Industry Insights: The Shift in Hiring Trends

Tim Genc, executive editor at FAPA, noted that aviation job fairs reflect the shifting needs of the air transport industry. In 2022 and 2023, most FAPA event attendees were carriers aggressively hiring pilots. During that period, pilots didn’t need to attend job fairs because finding work was relatively easy. “Now, there are more individual pilots showing up because landing a job is more competitive,” Genc said.

The recent decline in pilot hiring opportunities is part of the cyclical nature of the air transport industry. “What we are seeing now is not unusual. With airlines, everything ebbs and flows,” said Abbey Hutter, executive director at JSfirm, an online aviation job resource. “Airlines tend to hire too quickly, leading to periods of feast and famine in staffing.”

Optimism for Pilot Job Seekers: The Future Outlook

Despite the recent slowdown, job seekers shouldn’t be discouraged. Opportunities are likely to improve as airlines ramp up aircraft deliveries, expand fleets, and as retirements among older pilots continue to create demand for new candidates. “United Airlines is not going to slow down. NetJets and other charter companies are also hiring, and helicopter operators are still growing,” Hutter said.

Since the retirement trend among older pilots is expected to peak in 2026 or 2027, Genc of FAPA believes that opportunities for pilots will continue to emerge. While the employment landscape isn’t experiencing a true downturn, it is returning to pre-pandemic levels.

“If we look at the numbers historically, 2024 was still a good year,” Genc said. “Use this downtime to refresh your résumé, practice interview skills, polish your aviation craft, and engage with others in the industry.”

Building Relationships in Aviation: Networking is Key

Aviation is a close-knit community, and personal relationships remain critical in finding job opportunities. Pilots looking for work must actively network and maintain contacts who can inform them about new openings. “In aviation, ‘who you know’ still matters,” Genc said.

Commercial aviation is also a challenging industry that often tests pilots’ patience and perseverance. Many people who prefer steady, predictable careers may not be suited for the unpredictable nature of the aviation industry.

“You have to love aviation,” Genc emphasized. “If the smell of jet fuel excites you, the industry will always have a place for you.”

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, aopa.org