How many pilots are retiring soon?

Over the next 20 years, 80,000 airline pilots are retiring. United Airlines alone estimates half of their 12,500 pilots will retire over the next ten years, and they will need to hire 10,000 pilots over that period to keep pace with growth3.



People Also Ask

We now anticipate a peak shortfall in 2026 of about 24,000 pilots instead of a peak of close to 30,000 once predicted in the wake of COVID-19 early retirements. That still represents about 23% of the pilot workforce, so the problem is far from eliminated.

MORE DETAILS

Boeing Forecast
Trusted by more than 100 aviation regulatory agencies worldwide, the current Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook concludes that the aviation industry will need to supply more than 602,000 commercial airline pilots worldwide over the next 20 years2.

MORE DETAILS

Despite the short-term decline in the number of active pilots, analysis shows that the civil aviation industry will require more than 260,000 new pilots over the next decade. As air travel resumes progressively over the next several years, the industry will experience upward mandatory retirement and attrition rates.

MORE DETAILS

An acute pilot shortage for major airlines including United, Delta, American and Southwest is forcing the industry to rethink how it trains pilots and recruits the next generation of aviation labor in the cockpit.

MORE DETAILS

Over the coming years, there are likely to be many opportunities to work as a pilot. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the number of airline and commercial pilot positions to grow 13% by 2030 . This is faster than the expected average career growth.

MORE DETAILS

Yes, being a pilot is worth it for many students. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5% job growth for airline and commercial pilots over the next ten years.

MORE DETAILS

WASHINGTON, July 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday voted to pass legislation that would raise the mandatory commercial pilot retirement age to 67 from 65 and make other aviation reforms, with the Senate now set to consider its own measure.

MORE DETAILS

The Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, which reauthorizes funding for the Federal Aviation Administration and aviation safety and infrastructure programs for the next five years, includes an amendment that would raise the mandatory retirement age for pilots from 65 to 67.

MORE DETAILS

WASHINGTON, July 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday voted to pass legislation that would raise the mandatory commercial pilot retirement age to 67 from 65 and make other aviation reforms, with the Senate now set to consider its own measure.

MORE DETAILS

The average Delta Airlines pilot earns $192,000 with top-earners making $526,000. American Airlines pilots earn an average salary of $118,000, with some pilots earning in excess of $700,000. Most importantly, pilot salaries continue to increase.

MORE DETAILS

In March, Delta approved a contract that increases wages 34 percent by 2026 and includes improvements to scheduling, retirement and other benefits. Delta's deal raised the standard for pilot compensation and benefits.

MORE DETAILS

Not to mention exposure to radiation, pressure changes, high levels of stress, and sitting for hours at a time. These factors can speed up the aging process for many pilots and research suggests they often die younger than the average population, particularly after retirement.

MORE DETAILS

The average age of airline pilots is 40+ years years old, representing 61% of the airline pilot population.

MORE DETAILS

World's best airports to land in according to pilots: The 15 airports that all pilots love flying to
  • New York, USA. ...
  • Hamilton Island, Whitsundays, Australia. ...
  • Stavanger, Norway. ...
  • Gibraltar. ...
  • Beijing, China. ...
  • Kittilä, Finland. ...
  • Ilulissat, Greenland. ...
  • San Francisco, USA.


MORE DETAILS

Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, and Singapore Airlines are commercial airlines that pay the highest pilot salaries.

MORE DETAILS

Some students ask themselves, “Am I too old to become a pilot?” and wonder how long they will be able to pursue a career in the air. No one is too old to attend flight school, as long as they are physically capable of operating an aircraft.

MORE DETAILS

Pilots la live slightly shorter lives because they have a slightly increased cancer risk because of increased radiation at altitude. But other professions have their dangers, of at least comparable magnitude.

MORE DETAILS