Airlines Fight Increased Pilot Demand With Bonuses and Better Pay
Airline hopefuls and captains-in-waiting have some good news, as the long prophesied pilot shortage may actually be upon us. The lingering effects of the post-9/11 slump, retiring baby boomer generation pilots, and a cluster of pandemic-induced early retirements have come together to make qualified, experienced aviators capable of carrier service a precious commodity. So precious, in fact, that regional carriers, once stereotyped as the begrudging employers of low-time pilots passing through on their way to the majors, are offering pay boosts and bonuses to retain their pilots as long as they can. David Neeleman's Breeze Airways has already raised its pay scale after only 7 mon