American Airlines Flight 718, the first US Boeing 737 MAX commercial flight since regulators grounded for 20 months in November, will depart from Miami, Florida, USA on December 29, 2020.
Marco Bello | Reuters
American Airlines plans to resume hiring pilots this fall, the airline told pilots on Tuesday, as a revival in demand prompts airlines to rethink their future workforce.
The pandemic derailed airline hiring plans in March last year, as airlines rushed to reduce their workforce to cut costs as travel demand fell. American last week said it plans to fly more than 90% of its 2019 domestic schedule this summer.
Bookings have since rebounded, led by vacationers flying within the US, airlines recently reported.
United Airlines also plans to re-hire pilots next month, while low-cost airline Spirit Airlines began training for new pilots in March. JetBlue Airways has also made plans to hire pilots later this year.
American plans to hire 300 new pilots by the end of the year and plans to double that number by 2022, Chip Long, American Airlines’ vice president for flight operations, said in a staff note, which was reviewed by CNBC.
The Fort Worth-based airline has about 15,000 pilots, although hundreds have either retired early or will stop flying in the next few years when they turn 65, the federally mandatory retirement age for airline pilots.
International demand for businesses and international flights remains weak as travel restrictions apply and major network carriers continue to lose money. United reported a first-quarter loss of $ 1.4 billion on Monday, while Delta Air Lines said last week it lost nearly $ 1.2 billion in the first three months of the year.
American will comment on its demand and hiring prospects when it releases its quarterly results on Thursday before the market opens.