Airline pilot hiring continued slowing in August, with 1,131 new jobs created for the month. Slower pilot hiring is anticipated to continue for the balance of 2001, with levels below the record levels seen in 2000. AIR, Inc.’s 2001 hiring forecast predicts 4,500 new jobs at the majors, 5,500 at the nationals, and 16,500 new pilot jobs overall in 2001 – the second best year ever. Most airlines are still hiring!
In August, 144 of the 210 total (69%) airlines/operators reporting to AIR, Inc. hired pilots. The major airlines hired 267 pilots with 8 of the 15 (53%) carriers hiring. The national airlines were the most active segment, with 23 of 32 (72%) hiring a total of 484 new pilots. The jet operators hired 115, the fractional companies hired 66, and the non-jet operators hired 137 new pilots.
At the end of August, the total number of pilots on furlough stood at 1,400, compared to 818 in July (1.48%) compared to .86% of 94,571 active airline pilots. Pilots at Alaska Airlines, represented by ALPA, ratified their tentative agreement with the carrier. The deal includes a pay rate increase of 11.05 percent retroactive to June 1, a 5 percent increase in 2002, and 4 percent in 2003. Air Wisconsin Airlines and its ALPA unit reached a tentative agreement; provisions include small-jet rates 1 percent over those in the Comair/ALPA contract. Southwest Airlines continued its expansion program with the opening of a new pilot base at Orlando (MCO). The Allied Pilots Association (APA), representing pilots at American Airlines, rejected the carrier’s proposal for "fast-track" negotiation methodology. According to the APA, the method would minimize consideration of non-pay items, such as safety and manning levels on long-haul flights.
The Midwest region Airline Pilot Career Seminar, Airline Forum, and Job Fair will be held in Denver, CO, at the Denver Renaissance Hotel (DEN) Saturday, Sept. 15. Airlines scheduled or invited to attend include Alaska, America West, Delta, FedEx, Northwest, Southwest, TWA, United, UPS, US Airways, American Eagle Airlines, America West, American Trans Air, Amerijet, Atlantic Coast, Comair, Atlas, Continental Express, Executive Jet Aviation, Horizon Air, Island Air, PSA/US Airways Express, Skyway, Trans States, USA Jet, and many others. The seminar will feature topics on the pilot hiring market, job search planning, pre-employment medical exams, interviewing, written testing, and applications/résumés/cover letters. United Airlines will be hosting a tour of their training center following the Job Fair Saturday evening for all seminar attendees, their spouses, and airline representatives.
Six Career Workshops will also be conducted. The first three workshops will be held Friday afternoon and evening, Sept. 14, featuring CRM, Military/Airline Transition, and Civilian/Airline Transition. The three remaining workshops on Sunday will cover Interview Survival, Airline Testing/Simulator Checks, Airline and Résumés/Cover Letters/Applications. The next seminar is planned for Washington, DC., Nov. 17. For details about our upcoming seminars, visit us on the Web at www.jet-jobs.com or call 800 JET-JOBS (538-5627) and ask for Jami Staples, AIR, Inc.’s Job Fair Sales Executive, ext. 178.
