Despite recent headlines, there are several career opportunities for aspiring aviators.
[ Pilots ]November 13, 2024 10:00 am ET
By Andrew Chen
Airlines across the United States hired record numbers of pilots throughout 2022 and 2023. However, many carriers have slowed or paused hiring in 2024. Carriers have cited a variety of reasons for their reduced hiring plans, ranging from changing business plans to Boeing delivery delays.
Despite the overall slowdown in hiring, some airlines are still looking for new pilots. Here are the airlines that are currently hiring pilots in the United States:
Which Major U.S. Airlines Are Hiring Pilots?
Most major airlines in the United States have stopped or drastically reduced their hiring plans for the year, but there is one that is still recruiting new pilots.
- JetBlue Airways is currently accepting applications through its “JetBlue Gateways” career development programs. JetBlue is based in New York but has hubs along the East Coast and in California. The airline primarily flies narrowbody Airbus aircraft, while also having a small number of Embraer 190s.
Although Delta and United are hiring pilots, they do not have any active job postings and the new pilots are likely from previous postings or pathway programs.
A JetBlue Airbus A320-200 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Which U.S. Low-Cost Carriers Are Hiring Pilots?
One of the country’s largest low-cost carriers, Spirit, has recently announced pilot furloughs. However, a few low-cost and ultra-low-cost carriers are actively accepting applications for new pilots.
- Allegiant Air is accepting applications for new pilots from its two pathway programs and the general public. The airline has around two dozen pilot bases spread across the country and a fleet of Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft. Allegiant is also taking delivery of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
- Avelo Airlines is hiring both first officers and captains. Avelo has six operating bases split across the East and West Coasts. The airline flies Boeing 737-700 and Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
- Frontier Airlines is currently hiring new pilots, citing a plan to grow to three times its current size over the next ten years. Using a fleet of Airbus narrowbody aircraft, the airline connects airports across the United States, Central America, and the Caribbean.
A Frontier Airbus A320 departs Las Vegas. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Which U.S. Regional Airlines Are Hiring Pilots?
As major U.S. airlines scale back their hiring, many regional carriers are actively hiring. Some are even offering significant signing bonuses, following a mass exodus of regional pilots to mainline carriers between 2021 and 2023.
- Air Wisconsin is currently hiring first officers and captains. The regional carrier operates a fleet of Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft under the American Eagle brand, out of American’s hubs in Chicago and Philadelphia.
- CommuteAir is hiring first officers and captains. The regional airline flies a fleet of Embraer ERJ-145 jets under the United Express banner, with hubs in Houston and Washington, D.C.
- Endeavor Air is currently hiring first officers and captains. With bases in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis, and New York, the Delta subsidiary flies Bombardier CRJ-700 and CRJ-900 aircraft under the Delta Connection brand.
- Envoy Air is accepting applications for pilot positions from the general public and through its cadet program. Envoy is a subsidiary of the American Airlines Group and flies as American Eagle. The airline operates Embraer 170 and 175 jets out of its hubs in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, and Phoenix.
- GoJet Airlines is currently hiring first officers and captains. It also has a career development program and a transition program for rotor pilots. The regional carrier flies a fleet of Bombardier CRJ-550s under the United Express brand out of Chicago, Newark, and Washington, D.C.
- Horizon Air is only hiring experienced first officers for its fleet of Embraer 175s at all its bases across the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Applicants need to have 200 hours of FAA-approved Prior Qualifying Time.
- Mesa Airlines is hiring first officers and captains. The regional carrier flies Bombardier CRJ-900s and Embraer 175s for United Express. However, the airline is planning to transition to an all-Embraer fleet by March 1, 2024. It has crew bases in Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C.
- Piedmont Airlines is hiring first officers and captains and also operates a cadet program. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of the American Airlines Group, the carrier flies under the American Eagle Brand. It operates Embraer ERJ-145s with crew bases in Charlotte, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia.
- PSA Airlines is accepting applications for first officers and captains. The carrier, which is another American Airlines Group subsidiary, also has a cadet program. From its bases in Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Dayton, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., its pilots fly a fleet of Bombardier CRJ-700 and CRJ-900 aircraft.
- Republic Airways is hiring first officers and captains. It is only one of two regional carriers that fly for all the “big three” U.S. airlines: American, Delta, and United. It has ten bases throughout the Midwest and Northeast and flies Embraer 170s and 175s.
- Silver Airways is seeking both first officers and captains. The airline has pilot bases in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, San Juan, and Tampa and flies a fleet of ATR 42 and ATR 72 turboprops around the southwestern U.S. and the Caribbean.
- SkyWest Airlines is hiring first officers and captains and also has a rotor transition program. SkyWest is the largest regional carrier and flies under five brands: Alaska Airlines, American Eagle, Delta Connection, SkyWest Charters, and United Express. It flies a fleet of Bombardier Regional Jets and Embraer E175s from its bases all across the country.
A SkyWest Embraer aircraft operating for Delta Connection (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Which U.S. Cargo and Charter Airlines are Hiring Pilots?
Charter and cargo airlines can offer pilots unique opportunities and dynamic schedules and working conditions. While some of these carriers have paused pilot hiring, others are still actively seeking new hires.
- Amerijet International is hiring first officers, but only through its flight school pathway programs. The cargo airline flies Boeing 767s for several companies under its own brand.
- Atlas Air is accepting applications for new first officers. In addition to providing passenger charter services, the airline has extensive cargo operations. The airline’s fleet of Boeing widebodies and narrowbodies fly under its own brand and for companies like DHL and Amazon.
- Kalitta Air is hiring first officers. The airline currently flies Boeing 747-400F and Boeing 777F aircraft to destinations across the globe.
- UPS Airlines is hiring first officers for its UPS Worldport facility in Louisville. The carrier is one of the world’s largest cargo airlines and flies a diverse fleet of jets all around the world.
A UPS Airlines Boeing 787-8F (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)
U.S. Airlines Are Hiring Pilots
Although many airlines in the United States have paused their pilot hiring efforts, there are still some companies that are still seeking new pilots. Despite the headlines of a pilot hiring slowdown, there are still many opportunities for aspiring aviators.
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Editor’s Note: This story was last updated on Nov. 13, 2024.
Andrew is a lifelong lover of aviation and travel. He has flown all over the world and is fascinated by the workings of the air travel industry. As a private pilot and glider pilot who has worked with airlines, airports and other industry stakeholders, he is always excited to share his passion for aviation with others. In addition to being a writer, he also hosts Flying Smarter, an educational travel podcast that explores the complex world of air travel to help listeners become better-informed and savvier travelers.
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Andrew is a lifelong lover of aviation and travel. He has flown all over the world and is fascinated by the workings of the air travel industry. As a private pilot and glider pilot who has worked with airlines, airports and other industry stakeholders, he is always excited to share his passion for aviation with others. In addition to being a writer, he also hosts Flying Smarter, an educational travel podcast that explores the complex world of air travel to help listeners become better-informed and savvier travelers.
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