Market Intelligence: -Airline Hiring

US Regional Airline First Officers to Receive 84% Pay Increase as Airline Will Need 500 New Pilots Per Year

US Regional Airline Horizon Air’s more than 700 pilots, who are represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), voted to ratify a new agreement aimed at supporting the company’s pilots and retaining talent as mainline airlines continue hiring pilots away from regional airlines at record levels. The agreement includes important pay increases and enhancements to retirement benefits. Additional improvements involve commuter policies and instructor benefits.

More than 91% of Horizon pilots voted, and the agreement passed by 99%.

A tentative agreement was reached with the IBT on Sept. 2 and is effective immediately upon ratification.

“Horizon Air is proud to serve communities throughout the West – places that we call home. The ongoing industry pilot shortage has put a strain on this service, and it’s more critical than ever that we attract and retain our talented pilots,” said Joe Sprague, president of Horizon Air. “We are focused on making Horizon the regional carrier of choice for pilots, and this agreement positions us well. I’m grateful to our pilots and to our colleagues at the IBT for their collaboration and hard work in getting to this point. Together, we are positioning Horizon for a strong future.”

“In light of recent wage increases across all segments of our industry, significant improvements were necessary for Horizon Air to remain competitive in attracting and retaining pilots,” said Horizon pilot and IBT 1224 Executive Council Chairman Henry Simkins. “We identified what was important to our pilot group and worked to implement an approach that will help Horizon Air retain an experienced workforce and attract new talent. We appreciate management’s investment in our skilled professionals that continue to safely deliver our wonderful passengers every day.”

The pilot shortage and the transition to a single fleet of Embraer 175 aircraft has resulted in a temporary reduction of Horizon’s scheduled flying. Nonetheless, Horizon continues to fly to every community we serve. Regional air service provides essential support for economic development and strong local communities. We’re committed to ensuring this service remains strong into the future.

The new agreement with Horizon pilots complements other company efforts that are expanding and diversifying the pilot pipeline through investments in the Ascend Pilot Academy and the Pilot Development Program. This is a priority, as Alaska and Horizon estimate the need to hire 500 pilots each year through 2025.

According to the agreement, First Officers will receive a wage increase of 85% while Captains will receive an average of 74% pay increase.

Source: Alaska Airlines Press Release

Related Posts

Visual Approach Analytics Says That US This Year Is Short Of Roughly 8,000 Pilots

Last year, aviation data and insights platform, Visual Approach Analytics, forecasted that the United States for 2022 will be short of approximately 5,000 pilots but the platform took note that such figure is discounting roughly 2,000 more as airlines are doing pre-hires for next year, 2023.

In its latest announcement, Visual Approach Analytics said:

“Our early estimates suggesting the U.S. would be short 5,500 pilots in 2022 appear to have been short by roughly 2,000 pilots.  Further, the existential threat to the regional airlines spread to the LCCs and even the largest of the mainline carriers.

As a result, the renewed demand that was not matched by available pilots brought record high fares during summer 2022 amid record cancellations, delays, and frustrations.

The pilot shortage arrived earlier and stronger than expected.  However, our then-eye-watering prediction of a 30% reduction in regional aircraft flying proved exceptionally accurate.”

Check out the full article here and sign up to their newsletter to receive weekly updates.

Source: Visual Approach Analytics

Photo Credit: Visual Approach Analytics

You may also check our Terms and Conditions for our Content Policy.

Related Posts

US Airline Executive Discusses Pilot Career Path Program During the Global Aerospace Summit

Delta Air Lines’ Capt. Patrick Burns, the Vice President for Flight Operations & System Chief Pilot discussed during the recently held Global Aerospace Summit Delta’s workforce development programs and how Delta identifies, develops and mentors the next generation of aviation professionals. Check out the full article below by Capt. Patrick Burns.

“I had the distinct honor last week to represent Delta at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Aerospace Summit in Washington, D.C. I was there to talk about several issues that are important to Delta and near and dear to me, including how the airline industry can foster a strong talent pipeline, what our needs are in the years ahead, and what Delta is doing to both serve our communities and diversify our skilled teams of aviation professionals.

As we know, there are barriers to entering this profession. In addition to the financial challenges, many people, and especially those in underserved communities, don’t have someone to show them the way, a mentor to guide them through the steps necessary to log flight hours, to direct them to top-notch training facilities, and to model what in addition to flight hours is important to be a professional pilot. That’s where Delta comes in. We’re going to knock down any barriers we can and, in the process, demonstrate why no one better connects the world.

At the Global Aerospace Summit, I shared how, whether you’re a student in a college aviation program, a professional in another role who is building your skillset on the side, or simply a child looking at the clouds and wishing you were up there, too, Delta has a pathway to help you join our team.

I can relate to some of these challenges. In 1989, I started on the ramp at the Philadelphia International Airport which was a necessary step in my journey after funding much of my own college education. Now, I had to earn money for flight training, and I worked in every above- and below-wing department at Delta for several years. My family supported me the best they could, and I borrowed enough money to complete my training. After flight instructing and regional airline flying, I worked my way back to Delta and my dream job in 1999.

The next generation of pilots and aviation maintenance technicians

We expect to need approximately 8,000 pilots over the next 10 years as our current professionals reach mandatory retirement age. We expect a great need for skilled mechanics in our TechOps ranks, as well. Industry projections suggest that over the next 20 years, more than 600,000 aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) will be needed to meet total demand. We knew this before the pandemic, and the rapid contraction and then expansion of our industry magnified these needs for highly skilled people. As a result, we supercharged our hiring and talent pipeline programs.

Today, Delta Flight Operations, through our Propel Pilot Career Path Program, works with 15 premier aviation programs at universities across the U.S. to offer students a defined, accelerated path to becoming a pilot. Two of these are Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Another is located in Puerto Rico. As I discussed with my fellow panelists at the Global Aerospace Summit, the hiring challenges we have in front of us give us the awesome opportunity to build a diverse, inclusive workforce and to offer incredible careers to talented, highly skilled professionals who are underrepresented in our industry today.

Current Delta employees meeting the eligibility requirements can also apply for the Propel Company Pilot Career Path. Successful candidates will receive a Qualified Job Offer (QJO) for a pilot position with Delta.

Delta’s Community path inspires young people to pursue careers as pilots. We partner with several organizations that share this same goal, including Women in Aviation International, the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, the National Gay Pilots Association, the National Intercollegiate Flying Association, and new partnerships are on the horizon. These organizations share their top talent for consideration in Propel and receive the same QJO that applies to participants in the College Path. Delta provides financial investment through scholarships and sponsorships to these diversity-focused partner organizations in alignment with our goal to create more equitable access to training and mentorship for future pilots.

In total, Delta has 539 participants currently in the Propel program, which is growing every year. We have been hiring more than 200 pilots per month this year and anticipate hiring to continue in support of our long-term goals.

In order to keep the pipeline of AMTs growing, Delta established TechU, which is focused on creating a clear pathway for future AMTs. TechU extends from community outreach to collaboration with educational institutions, the U.S. military and our partner organizations. We’re currently partnered with more than 50 of the best Airframe and Powerplant schools across the country. Delta supports these schools with training content, resources and access to Delta TechOps expertise.

Since the beginning of this year, Delta has hired more than 1,500 AMTs. As a pilot, I admire and trust these professionals as critical members of the operations team. These are incredible technicians, and it’s a highly coveted, high-paying career option that is vital to the aviation industry.

Lighting the way

The purpose of the Global Aerospace Summit was to bring together leaders from commercial aviation, space, and defense for conversations that drive our industry forward. Delta knows exactly what powers our airline – it’s our people. Each of us in the airlines business today has a responsibility to serve our communities and our fellow human beings, to make things just a little better every day for those who come after us. That Delta spirit of community and service is the torch that ignites the beacons of opportunity, and it will light and widen the pathways to pilot, AMT and other careers for generations of aviation professionals to come.

About the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Aerospace Summit

This yearly event is held in Washington, D.C. and was back for the first time in two years. The Summit is attended by industry leaders, government officials and media. A4A CEO Nick Calio moderated the workforce development panel where Patrick Burns spoke. Topics throughout the two-day summit addressed challenges and opportunities on issues such as the future of connectivity, international industry collaboration, workforce development, and innovations advancing opportunity in space and aviation.”

Source: Delta Air Lines Press Release

You may also check our Terms and Conditions for our Content Policy.

Related Posts

Indian Budget Airline to Increase Pilot Salary by 20% as Business Improves

SpiceJet, India’s budget airline and the country’s second largest, is increasing pilot salary by 20% starting October, sources say.

“Keeping with our commitment of increasing salaries in a calibrated manner as our business improves, the salary for the month of October will see an increase of around 20 per cent for our captains and senior first officers” Captain Gurcharan Arora, SVP – Flight Operations, SpiceJet told all pilots.

According to Media publication ETNow, the airline has received the first tranche of the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) payment amounting to around Rs 125 cr (around US$15 million).

Photo Credit: SpiceJet

You may also check our Terms and Conditions for our Content Policy.

Related Posts

Airline Pilot Union Commends US Regulator FAA’s Denial of Republic Airways’ Pilot Training Exemption Request

Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) president Capt. Joe DePete issued the following statement after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued its decision to deny Republic Airways an exemption from federal pilot training qualification and experience requirements for aspiring aviators enrolled in the company’s private flight academy:

“This decision is a huge win for aviation safety and for the flying public. The FAA’s findings confirm what we’ve said all along about Republic’s request—that it is not in the public interest and would adversely affect safety.

“Additionally, in its official petition denial, the FAA affirmed its support for the regulatory requirements that are in place to facilitate the qualification of pilots—the aviation safety law that has reduced aviation fatalities by 99.8 percent since its implementation.

“We opposed with our full weight this exemption request and will do so with any other efforts that seek to evade, undermine, weaken, or repeal first officer qualification, experience, and training requirements. We applaud the FAA for its decision today and urge the Department of Transportation to similarly reject any proposed business models—such as that proposed by Skywest—which could undermine the safety critical impact of the first officer qualifications on travelers, from small communities and large ones alike.

“As we have said, our union stands ready to work with any industry stakeholder on constructive ways to ensure we continue to have a robust and diverse pilot pipeline. However, we will give no ground when it comes to the hard-fought gains that we have made in safety.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 65,000 pilots at 40 U.S. and Canadian airlines.

Source: ALPA Press Release

You may also check our Terms and Conditions for our Content Policy.

Related Posts

Middle East Airline Received a Substantial Amount of Applications for Cadet Program

The Emirates Group has returned to the UAE Career Fair with an expansive portfolio of job opportunities in aviation and travel for UAE Nationals.

The most sought-after opportunity at the Fair was the Graduate Training Programme which received over 1,900 applications, reflecting the dedication and ambitions of Emirati youth as they look to embark on their professional journeys in aviation. In addition, over 1,300 UAE Nationals applied for roles as Customer Service Professionals, attracted by the Emirates Group’s impeccable credentials and reputation for being a global leader in customer service. Once onboarded and trained, these professionals will help support the Group’s airport operations at Dubai International.

Over 300 applications were received for the Technology (IT) Graduate Programme, which support the nation’s agenda to build a skilled technology talent pool, and is also in line with the Emirates Group’s own requirements to recruit IT experts in a range of exciting roles. Successful candidates will undergo 2 years of extensive on-job training, during which they will be exposed to real time projects with the support of a mentor.  The Group also received a substantial amount of applications for the operational roles including National cabin crew and cadet programmes.

Emirati high school graduates were also offered support for their future development with The UAE National Scholarship Programme, which saw a strong response from graduates who applied to further their education in various fields including Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Aviation Management, Finance and Supply Chain.

A large number of instant interviews took place at the Emirates Group stand during the three-day Fair, where applicants were met by the recruitment professionals from the Group’s Emiratisation team to validate their experience and competence for customer service roles. Several Emirati professionals from across the Group also participated in the event. They shared their experiences and welcomed aspiring candidates to learn more about the job offerings and the application process.

The Emirates Group is committed to cultivating its UAE National talent, with a robust strategy in place that offers numerous growth and development pathways – from the sourcing talented Emiratis to skills training and development, and opportunity for them to fill a variety of roles across different departments. The Group has been a proud participant of UAE Careers for decades and continues to provide a variety of exciting career prospects for Emiratis at every edition of the Fair.

Among the opportunities open for Emirati High School Graduates is the National Cadet Pilot Programme of the airline where flight training of the successful applicant will be held in Emirates Flight Training Academy. The program takes about four years with three separate phases, namely: the foundation phase, the flight training phase, and the conversion and line training phase.

Source: Emirates Group Press Release

You may also check our Terms and Conditions for our Content Policy.

Related Posts