Numbers Up, Some Carriers Recalling

By Kit Darby, President & CEO, AIR, Inc.

It looks like there is some good news on the horizon for a few of the legacy carriers that have been struggling since 9/11. Continental has announced that they will not only be recalling all 203 furloughed pilots in 2005, but there is a possibility they may hire 80 additional pilots before the year is out.

Northwest Airlines (NWA) is planning to recall 410 pilots in 2005. NWA presently has 593 pilots on furlough, recalled 50 in January with plans to recall 29 in February. United Airlines (UAL) is planning to recall an additional 150 pilots in 2005.

Other major airlines continuing their hiring trend into 2005 include Southwest Airlines with plans to add an additional 404 this year, and America West Airlines with plans to hire 200. JetBlue joined the ranks of the majors this month and plan on hiring 320 pilots by year-end, adding to 2005's hiring figures.

Pilots are happy to see that FedEx and United Parcel Service (UPS) will be calling candidates for interviews this year, too. FedEx is hiring 200 throughout the year and UPS will be putting 51 pilots into their flight decks during the first quarter.

Strong pilot movement away from the passenger carriers and into the cargo carrier market, is what Kit Darby, President of AIR, Inc is predicting. With FedEx and UPS hiring a combined total of 400-plus in 2005, many pilots are scrambling for the select flight deck positions. Job security and one of the highest pay scales in the industry are helping to drive the movement.

 
AIR, Inc. will hold its 2nd Airline Pilot Job Fair and Seminar of 2005 in Atlanta, GA on April 16. AirTran, American Eagle, Ameriflight, ASTAR, FlexJet, Cape Air, CAE Simuflight, Cathay Pacific, FedEx, FlexJet, Gulfstream, JetBlue, LA Air National Guard, NetJets, Skywest, Southwest, Trans States, and US Airways subsidiaries Piedmont and PSA, UPS, and USA Jet Airlines are among the airlines invited to attend.

FNI: www.jet-jobs.com