Monday, 9 February 2026

Current 2026 US Airline Pilot Hiring Announcements


Pilot Positions Outlook 2026

Jan 12, 2026 —

Southwest has announced plans to hire approximately 872 pilots and upgrade to 662 pilots in 2026.  These hiring plans are a strong indicator that the airline is continuing to expand its operations and position itself for future growth.
Source: Aero Crew News


Oct 13, 2025 —

Delta Airlines has hired 520 pilots in 2025 and plans to hire approximately 600 pilots in Q1 2026. To offset retirements, they expect to hire over 1,500 pilots over the next three years, which underscores the need for continued pilot hiring.
Source: RTAG Industry Briefing 2025


Oct 13, 2025 —

American Airlines has scheduled 60 new-hire pilots per class, per week, through the end of the year (excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's).  They expect to hire 1,500 pilots in 2026 to offset over 800 retirements and plan for fleet growth. Source: RTAG Industry Briefing 2025


Oct 13, 2025 —

United Airlines has plans to hire approximately 2,500 pilots in 2026 to account for record growth and retirements.
Source: RTAG Industry Briefing 2025


Oct 13, 2025 —

Alaska & Hawaiian have hired 120 pilots for Q1 2026 classes. They plan for an additional 80 in Q4 2026 and more than 200 in Q4 2027 to supplement the airlines' growth as they become one operating certificate and expand their route.


Aug 21, 2025 —

Frontier Airlines continues its nationwide growth by launching 15 new routes this fall. They also anticipate receiving 21 aircraft in 2025, 22 in 2026, 34 in 2027, 34 in 2028, and 36 in 2029.
Beyond 2030, the airline expects to take delivery of an additional 40 aircraft. In response to these deliveries, Frontier plans to continue its pilot hiring at a steady pace to ensure adequate staffing for the expanded fleet and route structure.
Source: Airways Magazine


Mar 10, 2025 —

Piedmont grows fleet by pulling planes from storage: As the aviation industry emerged from COVID, planes to fly were plentiful, but commercial pilots to fly them were not. 
Source: Piedmont



Short extract from the upcoming book:

Dream Job Pilot? Part 3

Pilot Job Search & Career Planning

Release March 2026


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<><><><><>

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DREAM JOB PILOT?

In a Series of Three Editions Explained:
Pros and Cons, Every Day Pilot Life
Training Possibilities in the UK, Australia
In the USA, Canada, Europe, South Africa,
and the Middle East, and most importantly:
How to Find a Pilot Position
Apple Books, B&N, Kobo, Amazon, etc.
Also available at Thalia in Europe.
.



#2 Flight Training: Dream Job Pilot? 
How to choose the best training facility
How to save money and time, and where to find grants, 
scholarships, and training financing. 
How to get the most flying hours in the shortest time 
in order to apply to airlines
.





TO LIVE IS TO FLY

Memoirs of an Executive Pilot - The Perfect Gift for Aviation Enthusiasts
Memoirs of an Executive Pilot in Europe in the '90s -
from VIP Passengers to Medical Emergency Flights



.


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Monday, 2 February 2026

Aviation Newsletter February - Pilot Positions






First Officer - FlyDubai - UAE


Requirements:


• Education - Minimum High School Diploma (or equivalent)
• Valid ICAO ATPL
• Valid ICAO 1st Class Medical certificate
• ELP level 4 or above


Type Rated
• B737 300 to 900 (NG/EFIS) endorsed within the last 24 months
• At least 1,500 MPA hrs flying time
• 500 hrs on B737-300 to 900 (NG/EFIS) type aircraft


Non Type Rated
• At least 2,500 hrs total flying time
• At least 1,000 hrs on modern (EFIS), multi crew, multi engine aircraft 

over 10 tons operating weight (preference will be given to those with PIC time)
• At least 1500 hours MPA time


Training Bond 3 Years
• Type Rated USD 24,000
• Non Type Rated USD 36,000


https://careers.flydubai.com/first-officer

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First Officer - FlexJet - UK & Europe Based


Requirements:

    • Valid EASA ATPL (UK CAA ATPL & Medical desirable but not mandatory)
    • 2,500 hrs Total Time
    • 500 hrs Pilot in Command Under Supervision time
    • 250 hrs Multi-Pilot Instrument Time
    • ME-IR (A) on EASA License
    • MCC Course certificate or MP Rating on EASA License
    • Hold an advanced UPRT qualification 
    • Hold a valid EU Passport
    • English Language Proficiency (ELP), minimum level 5
    • Bachelor’s Degree preferred

https://flexjet.clearcompany.com/careers/jobs/cca297e4-7138-34b7-45c4-985d43d9ad10/apply


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Flying Instructor - Emirates - Dubai, UAE


Requirements

  • CPL/ATPL License or Certificate
  • Experience as an Ab-initio flying instructional experience in a large ATO.
  • Minimum 700 hrs Total Time, 500 hrs Instructional time, 200 hrs IFR time.
  • Minimum GCAA or any ICAO Commercial Pilot License (CPL) or ATPL 
  • Minimum Flight Instructor Rating with Night and Instrument privileges.
  • Class 1 Medical Certificate without restrictions.
  • ICAO English Language Proficiency level 5 or greater.
  • Exceptional instructional technique with an understanding of a broad range of teaching methodologies.
  • ICAO English Language Proficiency Certificate
  • Computer literate.

https://www.emiratesgroupcareers.com/search-and-apply/21009


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First Officer - Sun Country Airlines - USA


Requirements:

  • 1500 hrs  
  • ATP Certificate Holder – 1500 Hours Minimum
  • 500 hrs of cross country
  • 100 hrs of night
  • 75 hrs of instrument
  • 50 hrs of multi-engine (25 actual and up to 25 hrs of simulator time)

OR

Restricted ATP Eligible – 1500 Hours Minimum

  • Successful completion of ATP/CTP course and current ATP written
  • 1500 hrs
  • 100 hrs can be simulator time
  • 250 hrs PIC in an airplane
  • 200 hrs cross country (100 hrs of which needs to be PIC cross country in an airplane)
  • 100 hrs of night (25 hrs of which needs to be PIC night in an airplane)
  • 75 hrs of instrument
  • 25 hrs of multi-engine
  • Legal authorization to work in the United States
  • Must be able to read, write, fluently speak and understand the English language
  • Valid U.S. passport or valid passport with green card and the ability to travel to and from all cities and countries served by Sun Country
  • Valid U.S. driver's license
  • High School Diploma, GED or equivalent, bachelor’s degree preferred

    https://recruiting2.ultipro.com/SUN1000SUNCO/JobBoard/5882c1c5-18e3-8740-5e61-37d8f7574d64

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Airbus 320 & Embraer First Officer - SAS - Denmark


Requirements:

  • EASA Airline Transport Pilot Licence (A), 
  • Commercial Pilot Licence (A), or Multi-Crew Pilot License*
  • EASA Class 1 Medical Certificate
  • Completed Advanced UPRT course
  • ICAO English Level 5 or 6
  • Unrestricted right to live and work in the EU
  • Clean criminal record
  • MCC Course
  • Minimum of 500 hrs on CS-25 

https://www.latestpilotjobs.com/jobs/view/id/17094

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Experienced First Officers - WIZZ AIR - Gatwick/Luton, UK


Requirements:

  • Unrestricted right to live and work in the United Kingdom
  • Valid UK CAA (ATPL/CPL)
  • Minimum 500 hrs on Airbus A320*
  • Current A320/IR ratings (combined) in a valid license
  • Valid UK CAA Class 1 Medical Certificate
  • ICAO level 4/5/6 English proficiency

https://careers.wizzair.com/job/Wizz-Air-Group-Pilot-Application-Form-H-1103/1012257001/

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First Officer - Etihad - Abu Dhabi


Requirements:

    • Flown any A320 family aircraft within the last 12 months
    • Type rating on A320 valid for at least 2 more months at the time of joining
    • Unrestricted ATPL or valid frozen ATPL (2) issued by an ICAO member state
    • Minimum 2,000 hrs total flying time
    • Minimum 1,500 hrs on multi-crew, glass cockpit MPA (1)
    • Minimum 500 hrs on type
    • Unrestricted, current Class 1 medical
    • Must not have attained the age of 50 on the day of joining
    • English language fluency (written and verbal) – ICAO Level 4 or better
    • Glass Cockpit: aircraft with an FMS coupled to APFDS  

https://career22.sapsf.com/careers?company=C0007249891P

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First Officer Airbus - Virgin Atlantic - Heathrow, London


Requirements:

  • A minimum experience of 1500 hours (FO)/ 3000 hours (SFO) of flight time on a multi-pilot turbojet or a multi-pilot turbo-prop aeroplane, having a maximum take-off mass of not less than 10 tonnes or a certificated passenger seating configuration of more than 19 passengers
  • Current and Qualified on the A320, A330, A340, A350 or A380
  • Hold a current UK Class One Medical
  • Unfrozen ATPL licence issued by the UK CAA, with a valid type rating when joining us
  • The ability to demonstrate a high level of proficiency in English (certified as ICAO level 6 English Proficiency when applying)


https://careers.virginatlantic.com/search-and-apply/first-officer-senior-first-officer-airbus


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Direct Entry Captain - Emirates - Dubai, UAE

Requirements:

  • Minimum 7,000 hrs total flying time (excluding P3, rotary, and single/multi-engine piston aircraft) 
  • Minimum 150 hrs in the past 12 months on Airbus FBW as a Captain 
  • A valid ICAO ATPL with a matching Authority Class 1 Medical 
  • ICAO English level 5 or above

For A380:

  • Minimum of 3,000 hrs PIC on Airbus FBW wide-body (A330/A340/A350/A380)
  • You must currently be flying on Airbus FBW wide-body as a Captain 

For A350:

  • Minimum of 3,000 hrs PIC on any Airbus FBW (A320/A330/A340/A350/A380)
  • You must currently be flying on Airbus FBW as a Captain

https://external.emiratesgroupcareers.com/en_US/careersmarketplace/ApplicationMethods

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Captain Boeing B757/767 – DHL - Vienna, Austria

Requirements:

  • Valid EASA ATPL (A)
  • Valid EASA Medical Certificate Class 1
  • English language fluency ICAO level 4 or above
  • Minimum of 5,000 hrs total flying time (excluding P3, simulator, rotary, and single/
  • multi-engine piston aircraft)
  • Minimum of 2,500 hrs command time on fixed-wing, multi-crew commercial CS-25 jet aircraft. 
  • EU citizenship
  • Valid Driver’s Licence
  • Entrance qualification for an (advanced) technical college, high school degree, or university entrance exam
  • Valid background check

Advantageous but not mandatory:

  • Valid Boeing B757/767 Type Rating
  • 500 flight hours as PIC on B737/757/767/777/787

https://careers.dhl.com/eu/nl/job/DPDHGLOBALAV328729NLEUEXTERNAL/Captain-Boeing-B757-767-TR-NTR-m-f-d





.

<><><><><>

.




DREAM JOB PILOT?

In a Series of Three Editions Explained:
Pros and Cons, Every Day Pilot Life,
Training Possibilities in the UK, Australia
In the USA, Canada, Europe, South Africa,
and the Middle East, and most importantly:
How to Find a Pilot Position
Apple Books, B&N, Kobo, Amazon, etc.
Also available at Thalia in Europe.
.



#2 Flight Training: Dream Job Pilot? 
How to choose the best training facility
How to save money and time, and where to find grants, 
scholarships, and training financing. 
How to get the most flying hours in the shortest time 
in order to apply to airlines
.





TO LIVE IS TO FLY

Memoirs of an Executive Pilot - The Perfect Gift for Aviation Enthusiasts
Memoirs of an Executive Pilot in Europe in the '90s -
from VIP Passengers to Medical Emergency Flights



.










.

at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)

Current 2026 US Airline Pilot Hiring Announcements

Pilot Positions Outlook 2026 Jan 12, 2026 — Southwest has announced plans to hire approximately 872 pilots and upgrade to 662 pilots in 202...