Have US airlines done enough to keep their pilots?

The race to shore up the industry’s global pilot personnel is at the forefront of airlines’ main operational and scheduling issues.

Air travel has rebounded in North America, faster than any other region. However, this burgeoning return has illuminated a precarious shortage of airline pilots further exacerbated by a wave of pilot early retirements.

US-based management firm, Oliver Wyman, estimates that North America is short of 8,000 pilots or the equivalent of 11% of the needed pilot supply.

In its pilot demand outlook, Canada-based simulation technology manufacturer CAE predicts that North America will need 65,000 new pilots in the next 10 years, while Oliver Wyman predicts that North America will be short nearly 30,000 pilots by the end of the same period.

So, while a wave of disruptions, cancellations and airline schedule adjustments grip the industry, how have US airlines responded to this increased demand for pilots?

Airlines roll out waves of pay incentives, but who has the best upgrades?
With mounting pressure from pilot unions, as well as staffing shortages prior to the start of summer 2022, US airlines were backed into a corner with no option but to offer incentives and bonus upgrades to their personnel and pilot remuneration packages in a bid to retain and attract staff.

These changes were seen across regional, legacy and low-cost airlines in the US market.