The folks at AIR, Inc., tell ANN that March of 2004 was the best pilot hiring month since 9/11/2001 and that the first three months of 2004 equaled 50% of 2003's hiring total! The Nationals hired an impressive 440 pilots, followed by the Jet Operators with 269, and the Majors with 103 pilots. The furlough numbers continued to decrease. The Non-jet Operator sector reported just nine pilots on furlough or less than 1% of its present pilot force! The Jet Operator and National sectors saw furlough figures increase slightly, from 49 to 54 and 649 to 701 respectively. Yes, 2004 is definitely looking better for the pilot job market. At the current rate airline pilot hiring for 2004 will exceed 9,000 new jobs.

Washington National Airport (DCA) added 12 beyond-perimeter slots early April to four airlines: four slots went to Alaska for DCA-SEA and DCA-LAX; two to America West for DCA-PHX; four to Frontier for DCA-DEN, and two for United for direct service between DCA and DEN. Ten within-perimeter slots were distributed to five airlines: two to AirTran for DCA-ATL; two to Comair for DCA-LEX; two to Midwest for DCA-MCI; and two slots for US Airways for DCA-AVL or ILM. Alaska won the only daily non-stop flight from DCA to LAX.

The Los Angeles AIR, Inc. Airline Pilot Career Job Fair/Seminar will be held April 24 at the LAX Airport Marriott Hotel. Many airlines have been invited to attend and, as of April 10, AirNet, Alaska, American Eagle, America West, Ameriflight, Altantic Southeast, Gulfstream, JetBlue, Mesa, Southwest, Tab Express, and World Aviation Systems have accepted. Numerous vendors and training academies will also attend. The next Job Fair, sponsored by America West Airlines, will be held in Phoenix, Arizona, June 12, 2004.

FMI: www.jet-jobs.com