Brings YTD Total To 8,256
Representatives of AIR Inc. told
Aero-News this week that airlines hired a total of 581 pilots in
December, bringing the year-to-date total to 8,256. The Nationals
took the hiring lead adding 289 pilots, followed by the Major
carriers with 106, the Fractionals hired 49, and Non-Jet Operators
hired 44 pilots respectively. Out of the 102,085 pilots employed
industry wide, 7,235 are currently on furlough. Major airlines
forecast hiring approximately 2,300 pilots in '07.
Delta Air Lines recalled its last 158 furloughed pilots and is
now actively recruiting first officers for their mainline
operations. Minimums for interested applicants are as follows:
1,200 total time, 1,000 fixed-wing turboprop or turbofan, ATP
written, Class I medical, four-year degree, and at least 21 years
of age. Delta said they may hire up to 200 new pilots in 2007.
Also of interest to those seeking airline pilot jobs is the
merger talks between several major US airlines. On January 10 US
Airways raised its purchase bid for Delta Air Lines to $10.2
billion from its original offer of $8.6 billion. The increased bid
includes 89.5 million shares of US Airways stock and $5 billion in
cash.
Two days later the Wall Street Journal reported that Delta and
Northwest Airlines have started merger talks.
Additionally, two of the nation's largest airlines, United and
Continental, are in the very early stages of merger talks. United
CEO Glenn Tilton is for airline consolidation and would negotiate a
deal if it were advantageous to United and its shareholders.
In other news, Continental Airline pilot John Prater took over
as president of the Air Line Pilots Association on January 1, 2007.
Prater is taking a hard-line stance and has stressed the need for
more collaborative action from all airlines and has pledged to
"make sure the union grabs hold of any advantages placed before
us." Prater beat out incumbent Duane Woerth in an election last
October.
AIR, Inc.'s next job fair is scheduled for January 27th at DFW's
Sheraton Grand Hotel. The agency says it already has a full roster
of prominent airlines and exhibitors signed up including: From the
Majors-AirTran, Continental, FedEx, Southwest, UPS; the
Nationals-AirNet Express, American Eagle, Atlantic Southeast
Airlines, Comair, Mesa, Skywest; Jet Operators and Non-jet
Operators-Amerijet, Cape Air, Colgan, CommutAir, Compass, GoJet,
Pinnacle, Skybus; Foreign, Crew Leasing, and Fractionals-Cathay
Pacific, Contractair, Flexjet, Hawaii Aviation, Netjets.
Others flying organizations and exhibitors to
attend include: Accessible Aviation, ALPA, ATP, CAE
Simuflight, Crew Pilot Training, Eagle Jet International, Louisiana
Air National Guard, PremAir.