In 2023, Delta Air Lines launched a massive recruitment drive to hire between 4,000 and 6,000 new flight attendants. This was part of a broader post-pandemic rebuilding effort to restore its network to 100% capacity and meet surging consumer demand for international and domestic travel. The airline targeted these hires to staff its major hubs, particularly its "mega-hub" in Atlanta, and to support the delivery of new, more fuel-efficient aircraft like the Airbus A321neo. Delta's hiring process is notoriously competitive; in a typical year, they receive over 300,000 applications for these positions, meaning they only hire about 1% to 2% of those who apply. Successful candidates must complete a rigorous 6-to-8-week training program at Delta's Global Training Center in Atlanta. This hiring wave in 2023 helped stabilize the workforce after the early-retirement packages offered during the 2020 downturn and ensured that the airline could maintain its reputation for industry-leading customer service as it returned to full global operations.