AIR Inc. has released their latest pilot hiring survey concerning the November 2005 timeframe.

Airlines hired a total of 695 pilots in November, bringing the year-to-date total to 9,771. The Majors took the hiring lead adding 227 pilots, followed by the National carriers with 197, the Jet Operators hired 127, and the Non-Jet Operators and Fractionals hired 56 and 46 pilots respectively. 2005 is shaping up to be the best year in airline pilot hiring since 9/11. Major airlines forecast hiring approximately 2,500 pilots in '06.

Alaska Airlines will be hiring. The Flight Operations Division of Alaska Airlines announced it would for be hiring an average of 12 crews per month through 2008 for a total of 350. Alaska currently has 35 B737-800s on order with options and purchase rights for an additional 65.

Southwest Airlines announced it will be paying its shareholders a quarterly dividend of $.0045 per share on January 5, 2006. It will be the low-cost carriers 117th quarterly dividend.

Southwest has announced they will be hiring approximately 460 pilots in 2006.

Competition between Washington Dulles and Boston is heating up. JetBlue will start offering six daily flights to and from the markets starting January 17, 2006 and AirTran will follow right behind on February 15 with four. United Airlines currently offers eight and Independence Air, which filed for Chapter 11 last month, offers five.

FMI: www.jet-jobs.com