United Airlines has informed the U.S. government that it has 100 aircraft grounded due to a lack of pilots. This was stated by the company’s CEO, Scott Kirby, during a U.S. Senate hearing concerning the impact left by the pandemic on the airline industry and the survival of the company, employee salaries, and a safe work environment.
«There was already a pilot shortage wave over the last decade in the U.S. and as we’ve gone through COVID, it has turned into a real shortfall» Scott further explained, as he pointed out that 100 of his company’s aircraft are not operating because there are no pilots for them.
The release does not detail to which specific aircraft they are alluding and if they include the regional United Express subsidiary, which is the gateway for the company’s pilots, as well as the weakest backbone of the company’s network.
Being a pilot in any country in the world is expensive and prerequisites to join a sound company are high, which makes the profession unattractive to young people, especially those who want stability, routine, and a quicker return on the money invested in their training.
According to what was reported by our partner Aeroin, United itself promotes training through Aviate, which establishes alliances with large civil aviation schools and renowned universities offering aviation courses, so that those who graduate can leave with a pre-contract that ties them to the airline.
In addition, the low salaries of pilots in regional and national airlines are a constant complaint, which creates a complex paradigm.
