AIR Inc. tells ANN that of the airlines reporting to them, that more than 770 pilots were hired last month.

• The Nationals and the Majors set the pace by hiring 340 and 195 pilots respectively.
• The Fractionals added 64 pilots to their flight decks, followed by the Jet Operators with 54 and the Non-Jet Operators with 50.

Southwest Airlines (SWA) placed an order for 79 additional B737-700Ws (with winglets) for a total of 140 on-order. Twenty-six are to be delivered in 2006, (36) in 2007, (30) in 2008, (18) in 2009, (10) in 2010, (10) in 2011, and (10) in 2012.

SWA has options on an additional 116.

United Airlines (UAL) currently has 1,520 pilots on furlough, but that figure is changing. In April UAL sent out recall notices to 1, 175 pilots of which 430 have or will be returning to the property by June, 499 bypassed the recall, and 193 accepted the recall but are on military or personal leave status.

Delta Air Lines' pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, sent a $290 million annual cost-cutting contract to pilots for ratification in late April. The new deal includes 14% in pay cuts, pay raises beginning 2007, more flexible work rule changes, $650 million to $ 1 billion in notes and future stock options.

It also allows Delta Connection carriers to operate fifteen 71-76 seat jets with permission to ad an additional 15 by January 1, 2008.
 
Mesa Airlines is interested in forming a joint venture with one or more Chinese airlines. "This could be a growth area for us" said CEO Jonathan Ornstein. He noted that there are only 40 regional jets in China and that the opportunity exists to connect a "significant number of cities" in mid-China with service.

FMI: www.jet-jobs.com