ATP Flight School, with 81 training centers across the United States, is highlighting several pilot hiring trends based on its experiences in 2024.
According to school officials, ATP Flight School placed 891 graduates with regional and major airlines, as well as corporate operators, in 2024.
School officials note that ATP Flight School instructors who reached 1,500 hours in 2024 found jobs at regional airlines every month in 2024.
Average Time to Placement: Instructors averaged just over three years from the start of flight training to their first regional airline job.
Regional Placements: SkyWest Airlines hired the most graduates, with instructors eligible for $17,500 in tuition reimbursement through an ATP partnership.
Major Airlines: Frontier Airlines hired the most ATP graduates among major carriers, showcasing the Frontier Airlines Pilot Cadet Program, which transitions instructors to first officers at 1,500 hours after completing a jet transition program at ATP JETS.
All legacy airlines hired ATP graduates in 2024, with the majority joining United Airlines, followed by Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. Hiring activity at American Airlines’ wholly-owned carriers increased toward the end of the year, creating optimism for continued hiring momentum in 2025, officials noted.
Future Outlook
The demand for airline pilots remains strong, driven by more than 17,000 mandatory retirements projected through the end of the decade, officials continued.
In 2025, nearly 2,000 mandatory retirements are expected at legacy airlines.
The global backlog of aircraft needing pilots is anticipated to also be a significant factor, with 2025 deliveries forecast to rise to 1,802 aircraft, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents about 340 airlines around the globe.
ATP officials say they expect 2025 to follow the upward hiring trend, as retirements and fleet growth create demand for new pilots.
For more information: ATPFlightSchool.com
