IN THIS MONTH'S EDITION:

• MASSIVE NEW HIRE CLASSES
• SOUTHWEST 2026 HIRING PLAN
• PREMIUM AIRLINE POLL RESULTS

MASSIVE NEW HIRE CLASSES

The fall hiring wave of 2025 may have started off slowly with Delta stopping classes altogether while American and United slowly picked up with reasonable forecasts. The conservative forecasts didn't last long however, and both American and United cranked up hiring to the maximum extent possible. Now United is running weekly classes of around 75 pilots per week, while American is running classes of at least 60 new hires every week! That's over 500 pilots per month between just two airlines! These numbers are expected to continue into 2026 as pilot demand is increasing once again.

For every pilot who is hired at a major, a vacuum is created down the line. If the new hire were a regional captain, then that regional airline must upgrade another into that captain’s spot. When someone is upgraded, it creates room for another regional first officer. While the regional hiring trend is still slower, we can expect that to increase quickly as we go into the new year. These are exciting times for everyone looking to land their next pilot job. Remain prepared and keep your applications updated!

SOUTHWEST 2026 HIRING PLANS

Allegedly, Southwest is ramping up to hire even more pilots in 2026! After a brief application window opened to hire 140 pilots this fall, Southwest is now planning to hire another 350 pilots in Q1 2026, with a broader goal of 400 to 500 total new pilots for the year. If results of the fall application window provide any insight into the future, competition for these jobs will be very high. After more than a year of stagnation and economic uncertainty, we are encouraged to see some seniority movement for our fellow pilots at Southwest.

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PREMIUM AIRLINE READERS VOTE

Back in August, we conducted an unscientific poll asking which airline our readers think is the most premium in the United States. The reason we asked is because the “Big Three” are each making a big push (some more than others) to become even more premium. Currently, upgraded seating is the big driver of airline profits as top-end consumers are doing well while the lower-end consumers are struggling. Our poll asked: Which of the “Big Three” is the most premium? The results are:

·       Delta: 54%

·       United: 26%

·       American: 20%

Despite United's massive push to be perceived as more premium, Delta still firmly holds the crown in the consumers’ eyes. This doesn't mean they are untouchable, but as long as Delta’s marketing team continues to convince the consumer that they are the premium airline of the United States, they'll remain at number one. Flying Delta has almost become a status symbol. Plus for some, having a Delta AmEx card holds a lot of social value. For as long as customers are willing to pay more to fly on Delta, their company and profits will soar.